DUKE 
UNIVERSITY 


DIVINITY SCHOOL 
LIBRARY 


ESSAYS TO RO GOOD; 
ADDRESSED 


fo all Christians,. 


WHETHER IN 


PUBLIC OR PRIVATE CAPACITIES. 


BY THE LATE 


COTTON MATHER, DU. D. F.R.S~- 


To do good, and-to communicate, forget not. Heb. xiii. 16.+ 


saeoner Doveenesereesaa08 


A NEW EDITION; 
IMPROVED BY GEORGE BURDER:. 


CUSSED baer Ecosse oeorero® 


FROM THE LATEST LONDON EDITION, 


RT ___________________ 


Boston ; 
PRINTED AND sOLD BY LINCOLN & EDMANDS) 
No. 53, Cornhiil, 


—— 


Ob artee 


180g, 


eornire vor nena gies 
wah gale wae cee 
ze fs se 
ET 


~ 


AOE SY 
Boye JE 


b> 


Drv. S. 


b 
Contents. ee? B 


Pace 

THE Editor’s Preface, with a Sketch of the 
mks, Life. «cen Rs spe ge oe 
PERM en oes 0 0 ew een Ne b26) Begs ne ee 
Much eatin for doing BOO: 3. Gan 0a niet Oe 
The excellence of well-doing ». 2. 11. 1 we 26 
The reward of well-doing ..6s 1451+ 2 eee 20 
The diligence of wicked men in doingevil.... 31% 
The true nature of good works ...... se 
On seeking ofifiortunities todo good ....,... 38 
On internal fiety and self examination ....4.. 4l 
On doing good to our relations, children, &. . .(, 45 


a pee. «, « £0 OUP SET VONIE a an wp pt he , 358 
pat we ec= = £0 OUP NELNOOUFS2.e 520 61 
Private meetings for religion. ...... on lee 
Proposals to the ministers of the gospel ,..., 72 
Directions for fiastoral visite ...... +2225 18 
The duties of schoolmasters ........ >,” < etn 
Profiosals to churches, for doing good ....,.. 89 


Petes IR EBITRLES 7... a6 so os 


RSS eee Oe Ee Ee 


2 2 bee mee TEC MENS: . + ao ey Gebel ace eee 
a baWadics Tu so biG\ >, « sie Re cee 
MiaiaMancial frropfiosals to gentlemen «=, 9) ee 5 da 
Proposals to church, civil and military officers . 118 
nies i op EDUETS . Pak. - See > nga FeO 
Societies for the reformation of manners .... . 129 
A catalogue of desirable things ....+.+++ 148 
Conclusion » eevee msec er ss ss © BOO 


275020 


. 


wie wor =<" 
(tern as eee 


eet Tat nowy 


aig ae 


‘* 
yak Golbe. 2 
etc 


“THE following Essays were first ‘published by Dr. a 
"Cotton Mather, at Boston i in New England, in-the year 
4710. The design of the author is thus expressed in his 
“title-page, “‘ Bonrracius. An Essay upon the Good that — 
is to be devised and designed, by those who desire toan- 
_swer the Great End of Life, and toDo Good while they 
live. A Book offered, first, in general, unto all Chris-_ a 
tians, in a Personal Capacity, or in a Relative : Then more 
particularly unto Magistrates, Ministers, Physicians, 
Lawyers, Schoolmasters, Gentlemen, Officers, Churches, 
and unto all Societies of a religious character and inten- — 
‘tion : with humble Proposals of unexceptionable meth- 
ods to Do Good inthe world.” 


In the present Edition, this title is abridged, and the — 
Running Title, used by the author in the original work, is 
substituted, Essays to po Goop, which the reader may | 
understand to signify, ‘ Attempts to do good :” which 
was probably the author’s intention in the use of that 
phrase ; or, he may consider this little volume as com- ‘ 
posed of a set of Essays, on the noble subject of doing 
good in this present evil world. 


‘ 
The various methods of doing good, here proposed to the : 
‘public, derive nosmall recommendation from the example 


of the excellent author, whose whole life was a practical 
‘comment on ‘the subject, and who might have said to 
the readers ofhis own days, ‘‘Be ye followers of me.” 
‘T'o those who may not have had an opp tunity to peruse 
his life, the following slight sketch of itma 2 

ble. = 


' 

Dr. Cotton Mather, who was born, Febru 
at Boston, in New England, was honourably descent 
from families whose eminent piety, and sufferings 
righteousness’ sake, rendered them “ the excellent oft 

earth.” Dr. Increase Mather, his father, was. pas 
the North Church, in Boston, ‘and President of 
College ; his mother was the daughter of the rt 
Mr. John Cotton, a minister of ech a religion 
common learning. r 


At twelve years of age, our aut wat had at 
siderable knowledge of Latin, Greek, and 
4 was admitted into the calles’ at sixteen | 


275020. 


Nee, ee 


ee eereeeces 


took his first degree ; and befot 
ceeded Master of Arts. oe 

From his earliest years, he Secuctee a love to relig- 
jon; he prayed much in private, and constantly read 
fifteen chapters of the Bible ina day. At fourteen, he 
‘kept days of private fasting and prayer; devoted a tenth 
of his little income to pious uses 3 and at sixteen, became 
a member of the church. 


At this early period of life, he adopted it as a maxim, 


ee 


“that a power and an opportunity to do good, not onl 
; p PP y 8 y Y 


 givesaright to the doing of it, but makes the doing of it a 
dhty.” On this maxim he determined to act, and contin- 
-ued todo so throughout his whole life. 


In the execution of this’ noble design, he began in his 
father’s family, to do all the good in his power to his 
brothers, his sisters, and the servants. He imposed on 
himself a rule, never to enter any company, where it 
was proper for him to speak, without endeavouring to be 
useful in it ; and in doing this, he found that promise ful- 
filled, ‘to him that hath shall be given ;” for on the faith- 
ful improvement of his talents, his opportunities of useful- 
hess were gradually increased, till he became a blessing 
to whole churches, towns, and countries. 


In the management of his very numerous affairs, he 
was aman of uncommon dispatch and activity ; but he 
was obliged to improve every moment of his time; and 
‘that he might not suffer by impertinent and tedious visi- 
‘tors, he wrote over his study-door in large letters, BE 
SHORT. ‘< 

The writer of his life, Mr. Samuel Mather, his son, 
gives us the following specimen of his surprising activity, 
in the review ofa single year ; in the course of which, he 
preached seventy-two public sermons, and about. half 

_ that number in private. Nota day passed without some 
_ Contrivance to do good, which he registered ; beside ma- 
ny, probably, not noticed in his diary. Nota day passed, 
without his being able to say at the close of it, that some 
- partofhis income had been ey shiek for pious purpo- 
és, He prepared and published, in this year, about 
én books; and kept sixty-two fasts, and twenty- 

e. + ‘ Nd iS, ee 


4d 
@ was about. nineteen, he was chose co-pas- 
tor with his father ; from which that al hia Heath he 
as continued a laborious, zealous, and useful minister of the 
glorious gospel. He continued also a close and diligent 


Py ae 
Ps a ry phe 


‘i i “ * “a 
4 Ewes 
Bs EDITOR’S PREFACE. Vik 
. student, acquiring a prodigious fund of the most valuable 
knowledge: and that his usefulness might extend be- 
yond the limits of his own country, he learned the French 
and Spanish languages, and in his forty-fifth year took 
the pains to acquire a knowledge of the Indian (Iroquois) 
tongue, in each of which he published useful treatises. 
The greatest genius in the world would have found it 
impossible to effect so much, without a sacred regard to 
method ; in this Dr. Mather was studiously exact. That 
all his pursuits might have their proper places, he used to 
propose to himself a certain question in the morning of 
every day, in the following order : } 
Sabbath morning. What shallIdo, as a pastor 6f a 
church, for the good of the flock under my charge ? 
Monday. What shall I do in my family, and for the 
good of it ? 
Tuesday. What shallI do for'my relations abroad ? 
Wednesday. What shall Ido for the churches.of the 
Lord, and the more general interest of religion in the . 
world ? « 
Thursday. What good may I do in the several socie- 
ties to which I belong ? 
Friday. What special subjects of affliction, and ob- 
jects of compassion, may I take under my particular 
care, and what shallI doforthem? 
Saturday. What more have I to do for the interest of 
God, in my own heart and life > 
By this careful observation of method, by the readiness 


of his invention, and his peculiar celerity in the dispatch of 
business, he was enabled not only tojperform all the du- 
ties of the pastoral office, and to assistin the formation 


and support of numerous societies, but also to compose 
an uncommon number of books. His biographer gives us 
a catalogue of no less than three hundred*and eighty-. 
two. Some of these were indeed-small; but others were 
considerable in size, and some voluminous, particularly 
his famous work, ‘‘Magnalia Christi Americ 
“ The Ecclesiastical History of New England} 
- which, and other large treatises which he pu 
‘made very copious preparations for his ‘+ Aj 
ble;’’ in this great labour he was engaged for 
_ but we apprenend that it was never publish 


_- * The Publishers of this Edi 
The Biblia Americana” wi 


4 
My 


a 


Vill EDITOR’S PREFACE. 


In addition to his other engagements, he keptup-a lit=- 
erary correspondence with eminent men in various coun-- 
tries, among whom were Mr. Waller, Dr. Chamberlain, 
Dr. Woodward, Dr. Jurin, Professor Frank, Lord Chan-- 
cellor King, Dr. Whiston, Dr. Desaguliers*Sir Richard’ 
Blakemore, Dr. Watts, and many others, 


After a life of singular piety and activity; he was taken 

ill at the close of December, 1727 ;- when he felt a strong 

persuasion that his sickness would be unto death, and 

told his physician so.. The grand desire of-his heart was, 

that ‘‘ his own will inight be-entirely swallowed up in the 

will of God.” At that time he had some things in hand, 

which he would gladly have lived to finish ; but, saidhe, . 

.** T desire to have no will of my own.” When the physi- 
cian intimated his apprehensions of the fatal issue of his 

disorder, he immediately said, lifting up his hands ant 


eyes, ‘“Thy will be done on earth, as it isin heaven!” — 
2 y arth, 


and, a few hours before his departure, said, ‘‘ Now I 
have nothing more todohere; my willis entirely swal- 
lowed up in the will of God.” He frequently expressed 
the good hope he enjoyed; ‘‘that he was going to eat the 
bread and drink the water of life freely; that all tears 
would soon be wiped from his eyes ; that it was impossi- 
ble he should be lost ; and that his views of the heavenly 
world were glorious.” He hada hard cough, an asthma, 
and fever; yet he felt but little pain; was favoured 
with sweet composure of mind ; and obtained an easy 
dismission from the body: blessings which he had often 
prayed for with great fervency. He died Feb..13, 1728, 
having just completed his sixty-fifth year. oi an 


Such a life, and such a death, will afford to the serious 
reader a powerful recommendation of the following 
pages. The proposals for doing good, which they pres- 
ent, are not the idle speculations of an ingenious theorist, 
but the faithful transcript of a holy life. The author, by 
‘reducing them to practice, has demonstrated their prac- 
ticability to others; and encourages every individual 

reader, whatever be his share of capacity, or the sphere 


“in which he moves, to believe that he may doasome good _ 


in the world, if he be so disposed. are 
y at + 3 : « - j 

large a work to print, at that time, in New England. The 
dissenting ministers of London, ayho corresponded with Dr. 
Mather, were desirous to haye it published on that side of the 
Atlantic, but did not succeed i aining a subscription. 

The manuscript, written ina fair, legible hand, is deposit« 
edinthe Massachusetts Hi. ul Library. ad 


Chae 


EDITOR’S PREFACE. ix 


eereesesesee 


The late celebrated Dr. Franklin, who, when a youth, 
had the privilege of being acquainted with Dr. Mather, 
considered himself under the greatest obligations to his 
instruction and example ; and though we cannot con- 
clude that Dr. Franklin concurred with him in his evan- 
gelical views, yet he was certainly a philanthropist and a 
philosopher. The testimony, which he bore to the ex- 
cellence of this little volume, will enhance its value in the 
estimation of many of its readers.. That renowned 
statesman informs us, that all the good he ever did to his 
country, or to mankind, he owed to a small book»which 
he accidently met with, entitled “Essays to do Good.” 
This little book, he studied with care and attention, laid 


. up the sentiments in his memory, and resolved, from 


_ 


that time, which was in his early youth, that he would 
make doing good the great purpose and business of his 
life.* 


Those who are acquainted with the style of Dr. Math- 
er will readily allow that some alterations were necessa- 
ry to render it agreeable toa medern reader, The Edi- 
tor was obliged to change many quaint and obsolete 
words and phrases, for others more intelligible and 
pleasant.: the Latin sentences were translated by a learn- 


* Ina letter from Dr. Franklin to Dr. Mather, son of the 
Author, dated Passy, (in France) Noy. 10, 1779, we have the 
following paragraph. 

Referring to a paper of advice to the people of the United. 
States, just published by Dr. M. he says, 

* Such writings, though they may be lightly passed over by 
many readers, yet, if they make a deep impression on one ac- 
tive mind in a hundred, the effects may be considerable. 


** Permit me to: mention one little instance, which, though it 
relates to myself, will not be quite uninteresting to yon. 
When I was a boy, I met with a book, entitled “ Essays todo 
Good,” which I think was written by your father. It had been 
so little regarded by its former possessor, that several leayes 
of it were torn out ; but the remainder gave me such aturn of 
thinking, as to have an influence on my conduct through life ; 
for I have alwaysset a greater valueon the character of a do- 
er of good, than any other kind of reputation ; and if I have 
been, as you seem ‘to think, a useful citizen, the public owes 


the advantage of it to that book.” Jee) ee 
; Dr. Franklin’s Works, vol. ii. page 478. 
: 2 ae hee 


x EDITOR’s PREFACK. 


ed friend,* and the whole adapted to more general use- 
fulness. 


The Editor only adds, that it will afford peculiar de- 
light to the benevolent reader to find, as he peruses the 
following pages, that many of those public schemes of 
usefulness, which were projected by the author a centu- 

_Ty ago, have, within these few years, been recommended, 
adopted, and carried into effect in this free and happy. 
country ; and every year gladdens our hearts with the 
establishment of some new. Institution ; some new ‘** Es- 
say todo Good.” May the God of all goodness smile on 
every attempt to promote his glory, by promoting the 
happiness of his creatures! Much yet remaims to be done ;. 
and should the perusal of this volume tend to raise the 
holy flame of benevolent, zeal in the hearts of sincere 
Christians, or wi§ely direct its operations, it will afford a, 
rich recompense for the labour of 7. 

‘THE EDITOR. 

London, April 27, 1807>% 


* Note. In the present Bosron Eprtion the transla~ 
tions are generally inserted in the text, and the Latin pre~ 
served in the marginal notes, t . 


PREFACE. 


AMONG the many customs of the world, with. 
which it is almost necessary to comply, this is one, 
That a book must not appear without a Preface : and 
this little book willingly submits tothe customary cere- 
mony. Itcomes witha Preface ; however, it shall’ 
not be one likethe gates of Mindus.. But there is a 
greater difficulty in complying with another usage, 
that of “ An Epistle Dedicatory.”’ Dedications are 
become such foolish and fulsome adulations, that 
they are almost useless,: Frequently they answer no 
other purpose than to furnish the critics on “ The 
Manners of the Age”*with matter of ridicule. The 
excellent Mr. Boyle employed but a just expression 
in saying, “It is almost as much out of fashion in 
such addresses to omit giving praises, (E may say; 
unjust ones) = it is to believe the praises given on 
such occasions”? Sometimes the authors themselves 
live to see their own mistakes, and acknowledge them. 
Austin makes the flourishes which he had once 
used in a “ Dedication,” an article of his “ Retracta- 
tions :” and Calvin revokes a dedication, because he 
finds he had made it to am unworthy person. [may 
add, that at other times, every one perceives what the 
authors aim at, and that, in fact, they write for them- 
selves while they flatter other men. Another course 
must now be steered. 

‘~~ Ifa book of Essays To po Goon were to be dedica- 
ted to.a person of quality, it should seeka patrén who 
_ isa true man of honour, and of uncommon eoodness, 
: Thy patron, O. Book of Benefits tothe World, should. 
be a general and generous benefactor to mankind, one 
who, néyer accounts himself so well advanced, as in 
stooping to do good, one Whose highest ambition is to 
_ abound in“serviceable condescensions ; a 
‘ he gain of oppression, t mamon r aS 


Tene 


on 


x11 PREFACE. 


ing that is base, a lover of all good men, in all per- 
suasions ; able to distinguish them, and loving them 
without any distinction. Let him also be one who has 
nobly stripped himself of emoluments.and advantages, 
when they would have encumbered his opportunities: 
to serve his country. Yea, presume upon one who- 
has governed and adorned the greatest. city on the 
face of the earth, and so much “ the delight” of that. 
city, as well as. ofthe rest of mankind, that she shall. 
never account her honour or welfare better consulted, 
than when he appears for her as a representative in 
the most illustrious assembly in the world. 

In one word, a pusLic spirit. Let him there- 
fore, and on more than all these accounts,be - 


SIR WILLIAM ASHHURST. 


For as of old the poet observed on mentioning the 
name of “ Plutarch,’”’ that the echo answered “ Philos-- 
ophy :”” Sonow, a PUBLIC sPIRIT will immediately be 
the echo in the sense of all men, and with ayrepetition 
more frequent than that at Pont-Chareton, if the name 
of Sir Wii1trAm AsHuurst once be mentioned. He 


itis whom the confession of. all men brings into the- 


catalogue with Abraham and Joseph, and those other 
ancient blessings, who are thus excellently described. 


by Grotius: ‘“ Men born to serve. mankind, who. — 


reckon it their greatest gain to.have it in their power 
to do good.”* America afar off, also knows him ; the: 
American colonies have their eye on the efforts of his. 


goodness forthem. Nations of christianised Indians. 


likewise pray for him, as their Governor. To him, 
the design of such a book will be acceptable, whatever 


. may be the defective manner of treating its noWle sub-. 


ject. To him it wishes that all the blessings of those 
‘who device good, may be forever multiplied. 


I will presume to do something that will carry a. | 


sweet harmony with one of the chief methods to be 
observed in prosecuting the design of this book ; 
_ which is, for “brethren to dwell together in unity,’ 


* Homines demerendis hominibus nati, qui. -omnem | bene- 
ficii collocandi occasionem ponebant in lucro.. — 


: 


PREFACE: xij 


——_— 


and carry on every good design with united endeay- 
ours. 

They will pardon me, if I take leave to join with 
him, in the testimonies of our great esteem, for an 
honourable disposition to love good men, and to do. 
good in the world, his. excellent brother-in-law, the 
well-known name ofa 


JOSEPH THOMPSON, 

who has long been valued, and shall always be remem-- 
bered, in the country where this book is published. 
God will be glorified for the piety which adorns him, 
and the “ pure religion,” which; in the midst of the 
world and of temptations from it, keeps him so“ un-- 
spotted from the world.” It was.the maxim of a Pa-- 
gan Asdrubal in Livy, ‘“ Men distinguished by their 
prosperity are seldom distinguished for virtue.”’* Chris-- 
tianity will in this gentleman give tothe worldan happy- 
experiment, that the maxim is capable of a confutation.. 
Because a book of “ Essays to. do Good” will doubt-- 
less be aeceptable to. one of so good a.mind ;: and the 
treasurer of a corporation formed. on the intention ta 
do in Ameri¢a that good which is: of all the greatest, 
of which Sir William Ashhurst is the governor, he al-- 
so has a part in the humble tender of it 5. and it must. 
wish unto him “all the blessings of goodness.” 

The book now requires. that some account be given. 
ofit. It wasa passage in the speech of an envoy 
from his Britannic majesty to the duke of Branden- 
burgh, some years ago : “A capacity to do good, not. 
only gives a title to it, but also makes the doing of it 
a duty.” Ink were too vile a liquor to write that 
passage. Letters of gold were to mean to be the 
preservers. of it. Paper of Amyanthus + would not. 

be precious and. perennous enough to, perpetuate it, 


* Raro simul hominibus, bona fortuna, bonagne mens datur: 


+ Amyanthus or Asbestos, a sort of native fossil stone- 
which may be split into threads, and made into cloth or paper: 
It is notinjured bythe fire. Pliny says he has seen napkins 
_ tiade of it thrown into the fire after a feast, and by that means 

' better scoured than if they had been washed in water. - 

: : See Lncyclop. Sit, 


xi¥ PREFACE. 
Se 


To be brief, Reader, the book now in thy hands, is: 
nothing but an illustration of that memorable sen-- 
tence. As gold is capable of a wonderful dilatation ; 
(experiment has told us it may be so dilated, that the: 
hundred thousandth part of a grain may be visible 
without a microscope) this. “ golden sentence” may 
be as much extended : no manean say how much. 
This book is but a beating upon it. And at the same 
time it is a commentary on that inspired maxim, “ As 
we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men.” 
Gal. vi. 10. Every proposal here made upon it: 
hopes to be able to say, “ WhenI am tried, I shall. 
come forth as gold.” 

Iam well aware that all the rules of discretion and: 
behaviour are included in that one word, modesty. 
But it will be no: breach of modesty to be very posi- 
tive in asserting, That the only wisdom of man lies. 
im- conversing with the great God, and his glorious: 
Christ ; and in engaging as many others as we can to. 
join with us in this our blessedness + ‘toile 
ing his kingdom among the children of d in: 
studying to do good to all about us ; te be blessings: 
in our several relations ; to heal the disorders, and 
help the distresses of a miserable world, as far as ever’ 
wecan extend our influence. It will be no trespass, 
upon the rules of modesty, with all possible assurance: 
to assert, that no man begins to be wise till he come: 
to make this the main purpose and pleasure of his 
life : yea, that every man will at some time or other 
be so wise as to own, that every thing without this is 
but folly ; though, alas ! most men come to that.con= 
clusion ‘too late. _ 

ght of men, in every rank, besides those whose’ 
\ dying thoughts are collected in “ The Fair Warnings. 
toa careless World,” have at length declared their 
conviction of it. It will be no. immodesty in me to: 
says that the man who is not satisfied of the wisdom of 
‘making it the work of his life to do good, is always to. 
"be noticed with the pity due toan ideot. No first — 

principles are more peremptorily to be adhered unto. 

Or, do but grant * A judgment to come,” and my as- 

sertion is presently victorious. : 


s 


PREFACE. ‘ XIV 


I will not be immodest, and yet I will boldly say, 
‘The man is worse than a Pagan, who will not come 
into this notion of things, “ Vir bonus est commune 
bonum ;”* and “ Vivit is qui multis est usui;” and 
“ Utilitate hominum, nil debet esse homini antiquius.” 
“ None but a good manis really a living man ; and 
the more good any man does, the more he really 
lives.” All the rest is death; or belongs to it. Yea, 
‘you must excuse me if I say, the Mahometan, also, 
shall condemn the man who comes not into the princi- 
ples of this book ; for I think it occurs no-less than 
three times in the Koran; “ God loves those that are 
inclined to do good.” 
For this way of living, if we are fallen into a genera- 
tion, wherein men wilh cry, (Sotah!) “ He is a fool,” 
that practises it, as the Rabbins foretel it willrbe in 
the generation wherein the Messiah comes ; yet there 
will be a wiser generation, and “wisdom will be 
justified of her children.” Among the Jews there has 
‘been an Ezra, whose head they called “ The throne 
of wis ? Among the Greeks there has been a 
Democritus, who was called Sopura in the abstract. 
The later ages knew a Gildas, who wore the surname 
of Safiens: but it is the man whsse temper and in- 
tent it is “to do good,” that is the wise man after all. 
And indeed, had a man the hands of a Briareus, they 
_ would all be too few to do good; he might find occa- 
sions to call for more than all of them. ‘The English 
nation had once a sect of men called “‘ Bons hommes,’’ 
-or “Good men.” The ambition of this book is to re- 
vive and enlarge a sect that may claim that name; 
yea, to solicit that it may extend beyond the bounds 
of a sect, by the coming of all men into it. a ; 

Of all the “ trees in the garden of God,” which is 
there that envies not the Palm-tree, out of which 
alone, as Plutarch informs us, the Babylonians derived 
more than three hundred-commodities? Or the Cocoa- 
_ tree, so beneficial to man, that a vessel may berbuilt, 
and rigged, and freighted, and victualled from that 


* A good man is 3 common goods. 2 


x 


xvi PREFACE. 


alone ?, To plant such “ trees of righteousness,” and 
prune them, is the object of the book now before us. 
The men who devise good, will now give me leave 
to remind them of few things, by which they may be 
a little fortified for their grand intention 5 3 for, Sirs, 
you are to pass between “ Bozez” (or dirty,) and 
“ Sench,” (or thorny) and encounter ‘an host of things 
worse than Philistines, in your undertaking. 
Misconstruction is, one thing against which you 
will do well to furnish yourselves with the armour 
both of prudence and of patience ; prudence to pre- 
vent it, patience to endure it. You will unavoidably 
be put upon doing many good things, which other 
people will see but at a distance, and be unacquainted 
with the motives and methods of your doing them 5; 
yea, they may imagine their own purposes crossed in 
what you do ; and this will expose you to their cen- 
sures. Yet more particularly. In your essays to do 
good, you may happen tobe concerned with persons 
whose power is greater than their virtue. It may be 
needful as well as lawful, for you to mollify them with 
acknowledgments of thbee things in them, which may 
render them honourable or considerable ; and forbear 
lo'take notice, at present, of what may be culpable. 
In this you, may aim at nothing, but merely to be 
more able to do them good; or, by their means, to de 
good to others : and yet, if you are not very cautious, 
this your civility may be construed to your disadvan- 
tage : especially if you find yourselves obliged either 
to change your opinion of the persons, or 0 te ‘tax any 
miscarriage in them. The injustice of the censures 
upon you, may be much as if Paul, rebukine Felix for 
‘his. untighteousness and unchastity, should have been 
reproached. with his inconsistency in having SO | ) lately 
complimented him‘on his accomplishments _ and a acy 
quaintance with the affairs of his nation. 1 ut pape 
must not be uneasy if you should e t u Us UN. 


treated. Jerom had written highly ¢ x nN 
man of br ty endowments ; at another rote 
as severel inst some things that he was (perhaps _ 
unjustly) fis! dof. They charged Jerom ¥ with levi- 


fy, yea, with are but he bi the calumny, 


&, 


pce 


PREFACE. xvii 
== 
and replied, “I did commend what I thought was 
great in him ; and now! condemn what I find to be 
evil in him.” Where isthe contradiction? I say, be 
cautious ; but I say again, be not uneasy. 

What I add, is, that you must be above all discour- 
agements. Look for them, and with a magnanimous 
courage overlook them. 

Some have observed, that the most concealed, and 
yet the most violent, of all our passions, is, usually, 
that of idleness. It lays adamantine chains of death 
and of darkness upon us. It holds in chains, that can- 
not be shaken off, all our other inclinations, however 
impetuous. That no more mischief is done in the 
world is owingin great measure toa spontaneous 
lassitude on the muds of men, as well asthat no more 
good is effected by them. A Pharaoh will do us no~ 
wrong if he tell us, “Ye areidle, ye are idle!” We 
have usually more strength todo good, than we have 
inclination to employ it. Sirs,“ Be up and be do- 
ing !” Itis, surely, too soon for an * Hic situs est.”* 

If you meet with vile ingratitude from those whom 
you have laid under the most weighty obligations ; do 

_ not wonder at it. Into such a state of turpitude is 
man fallen, that he would bear any weight rather than 
that of obligation. Men will acknowledge small obli- 
gations ; but return wonderful malice for such as are 
extraordinary. They will render it a dangerous thing 
_to be very charitable and beneficent. Communities 
will do it as well as individuals. Excess of desert 
turns at length intoa kind of demerit. Men will 
, sooner forgive great injuries than great services. He 

that built a matchless castle for the Poles, for his re- 
_ ward, had his eyes put out, that he might not build 
/such another. Such things are enough to make one 
Sick of the world ; but, my friend, they should not 
make thee sick of essays to do good in the world. A 
conformity to thy Saviour, and a communion with 

him, will be sufficient to carry thee through all ! 

~ It will be impossible to avoid Envy, “ Fora right 
work,” and for a good one, and especially if a man do 
; € ‘ 


* Heese lies interred. p 


ss. Pye 
vii PREFACE. 


many such, “he shall be envied of hic neighbour. id 
It is almost incredible what power there is in the pride 
of men to produce detraction! pride, workingin a 
sort of impatience, that any man should be, or do 
more than themselves. ‘“ The minds of men,” as one 
says,“ have got the vapours ; a sweet report of any 
-one throws them into convulsions; a foul one re-. 
freshes them.” You must bear all the outrage of it ; 
and there is but one sort of revenge to be allowed you. 
“ There is not any revenge more heroical, than that 
which torments envy, by doing good. vv! 

It isa surprising passage, which a late French au- 
thor has given us ; “ Thata man of great merit isa 
kind of publicenemy. And that by engrossing a 
multitude of applauses, which w: serve to gratify a 
great many others, he cannot but be envied ; and that 
men naturally hate, what they highly esteem, yet can- 
not love.” But, my readers, let us not be surprised 
at it. You have read, who suffered the ostracism at 
Athens ; and what a pretty reason the country fellow 
offered why he gave his voice for the banishment ot 
Aristides :. “Because he was every where always 
called The Just :” and for what reason the Ephori 
Taid a fine on Agesilaus ; “ Because he merscaaee: | : 
above allother men,the hearts of the Lacedemonians.” 

at have readthe reason why the Ephesians expelled | 
the best of their citizens ; “If any are determined to excel — 
their neighbours, let them find another place to do it.”* 
You have read that he, who conquered Hannibal, saw 
it necessary to retire from Rome, that the merit of | 
others might be more noticed. My authors tell me, | 
that, “ At all times nothing has been more dangerous : 
among men than too illustrious a: degree of merit.” 
But, my readers, the terror of this envy; not in- 
timidate you. I must press you to ¢ . good . 
far from affrighted at it, you shall r ev be genero: 
ly delighted with the most envious deplumations. _ 

I wish I may prove a false prophet when: I 
ehe discouragement more which, you will | 


* Nemo de nobis unus excella at ; ee si ie exe ai 
jn loco, et apnd alios sit. YY 


% 


PREFACE. xix 


Sa ‘ 


sontend with ; Imean—penrisiton. And pray let not 
my prediction be derided. It was long since noted, 


~~ For ridicule shall frequently prevail, 
_ And cut the knot when graver reasons fail*. Francis, 


It is a thing of late started, that the way of banter and 
ridicule, or, the “ Bartholomew-Fair-method,” as they 
callit, isa more effectual way to discourage all good- 
Ress, and put it out of countenance, than fire and fag- 
got. No cruelties are so insupportable to humanity 
as “ cruel mockings.” Kt is extremely probable that 
the devil being somewhat chained up, in several 
places, from other ways of persecution, will more than 
ever apply himself to this. Essays to do good shall 
be derided with all the art and wit that he can inspire 
into his Janizaries : (a yani-cheer, or, a new order, 
the grand seignior of hell has instituted.) Exquisite 
profaneness and buffoonery shall try their skill to 
laugh people out of them. ‘Fhe men who abound in 
them shall be exposed on the stage ;_ libels, and lam- 
poons, and satires, the most poignant that ever were 
invented, shall be darted at them ; and pamphlets full 
eflying stories. be scattered, with a design to make 
_ themridiculous. “ In this the devil may be discovered 
at work.”¢ The devil will try whether the fear of be- 
_ img laughed at willnot scare a zeal to do good out 
| of the world. “ But let this rather increase your bold- 
Ress and zeal.” Sirs,‘ Despise the shame,” whatever 
“ contradiction of sinners” you meet with; you know 
what example did so before you. “ Quit you like 
men, be strong :” you know who gives you the di- 
rection. Say with resolution, ‘“‘ The proud have had 
me greatly in derision, yet have not I declined to do 
as much good as I could !” Ifyou should arriveto a. 
share in such sufferings, I will humbly “ shew you 


_ mine about the best conduct under them; it 
is, al contempt. I have a- evuniversi 


en my 3 the Omer ay of Helmsta t; 
Lae acri fortius et et melius aries "Wedtidie 


. 


‘+ Hicse aperit diabolus! 
$ Sedtu contra audentior ito. 
% 


atm 


3x PREFACE. 


eee 
SS 


abuse offered to it, had this, noble passage ina a. 
tion; “ Resolved, that we use no other remedy in this 
affair, than a generous silence and a holy contempt. Qe 
Go on todo good; and “ Go well, comely-in your go- 
ing,” like the noble creature, which “turneth not 
away for any.” A life spent in industrious essays to. 
do good will be your powerful and perpetual vindica- 
tion. It will give you such a well-established interest 
in the minds where conscience is consulted, that a few. 
squibbing, silly, impotent accusations, will never be 
able to extinguish it. If they. ridicule you in their: 


printed excursions, your name will be so oiled that 


ink will not adhere ta it. I remember that Valerian- 
us Magnus being abused by a Jesuit, who, had.laboured 
(by a “ modest inquiry,” you may be sure !) to make 
him ridiculous, made no other defence, but only on. 
every, stroke adjoined, “ Mentiris impudentissime +”, 
“‘It is a most impudent lie !” And such an answer 
might very truly be given to every line of some stories. 
that I have seen elsewhere brewed by another, » who is. 
no Jesuit. But even so much answerto their folly is. 
too much notice of it. Itis well observed that “ The. 
contempt of such discourses discredits them, and takes. 
away the pleasure from those that make them.” And, 
itis another observation, “ That when they of whom 
we have heard very ill, are yet found upon trial. to be, 
very good, we naturally conclude that they have a 
merit which is troublesome to some other people.” 
- The rule then is, be very good; yea, do very much 
good ; and cast a generous disdain upon contumelies ;, 
the great remedy against them. If you want a pat- 
tern, I can give you an imperial one ; it was Vespa- 
sian, who, when a person spake,evil of him, said, 
““ While I do nothing that merits, méproach, these lies 
give me nouneasiness.”+ And I ia i if i 
not an easy thing to, be as ho 
sian | : 


* Visum fuit, non alio remedio, quam generoso a nti 
pio contemptu, utendum nobis esse. 


+ Ego, cum nihil faciam dignug ai bor Wontntaelia 
avinlante mendacia nibil curo,.- 


sf ae 


e 


a 


PREFACE. Xxi 


Sirs! An unfainting resolution to do good, and an 
unwearied well-doing, is that which is now urged 
upon you. And may this little book be so happy, as 
herein to perform the office of a monitor to the 
reader. 

I do not find that Ihave spent so many, weeks in 
composing the book, as Descartes, though a profound 
geometrician, spent.in. studying the solution of one 
geometrical question : yet the composure has exceed- 
ed the limits which I intended ; and there is not a- 
single proposal in it, which would not, if well pursued, 
afford amore solid and durable satisfaction to the 
_ mind, than the solution of all the problems im Euclid, 

or in Pappus.. It is a vanity in writers to compliment 
the readers with, “I am sorry it is no better:” In- 
stead of which, I freely tell my readers, “I have 
written. what is.not unworthy of their perusal.” If T 
did not think so, truly, I would not publish it : for no 
man living has. demanded it of me ; it is not publish- 
ed “ to gratify the importunity.of. friends,” as your 
authors are.used to say ; but it is to use importunity 
with others, in a point, on which I thought they needed 
it. And I-will venture to say, there isnot one whim- 
sey in all my proposals: I propose no object con- 
cerning which the conscience.of every good man will 
not say, “It were well if it could be accomplished.” 
That writer was in the right who: said, “I cannot 
understand how: any. honest man can print a book, 
and yet profess that he thinks none will be the wiser 
or better for the reading it.” Indeed I own that my” 
subject is worthy to be much better treated ; and my 
manner of treating it is not such as to embolden me 
to, affix.my name to-it, as.the famous painter Titian 
did to his pieces, with a double feciz, fectt ; as much 
as to say; “ Very well done!’? andI must have utterly 
suppressed it, had I.been of the same humour with 
€imabus, another famous painter, who; if himself or 
any other detected the. least fault in his pieces, would 
utterly destroy them, though he had bestowed a 
twelve-months pains upon them. Yet I will venture 
~tasay, the book de full of reasonable and serviceable 


Xxii PREFACE. , 


things ; and it would be well for us if such things were 
regarded ; and I have done well to propose them. 

Who the author is, there is no need of inquiring. 
This will be unavoidably known in the vicinity: but 
his writing without a name (as well as not for one,) 
will conceal it from most of those to whom the book 
may come. And the concealment of his name, he 
apprehends, may be of some use to the book; for 
now, not who, but what, is the only thing to Be con- 
sidered.* 

It was a vanity in one author, and there may be too 
many guilty of the like, to demand, * Ubi mea legis, 
me agnosce.” In plain, unblushing English, “ Rea- 
der, whatever you do, account the author somebody. hig 
But, I pray, Sir, who are you, that mankind should | be © 
at all concerned about you ? He was almost as great a 
man as any ecclesiastical preferments could make him, 
who yet would not have so much as his name in his 
epitaph ; he would only have, “ Here lies a shadow--- ° 
ashes---nothing :’f There shall be no other name on 
this composure, “ Here is a book written, or rather at: 
tempted, by one who is a shadow---ashés---nobody.”* 

However, he is very strongly persuaded, that there 
is a day very near at hand, when books, of such a 
tendency as this, will be the most welcome things 
imaginable to many thousands of readers,§ and have 
more than one edition. Yea, great will be the army ~ 
of them that publish them! M.DCC. XVI. is coming. 

A vast variety of new ways to do good will be in- 
vented ; ‘ Paths” which no fowl of the best flight at 
noble designs has yet known ; and which the vulture’s 


* This treatise was originally published without the name 
of the author. 

j{ Hic jacet, umbra, cinis, nihil. 

gene scribit (vel scripturire studet et audet) umbra, cinis, 
nihil. 

§ The day is come. We have the happiness to live in an 
age and in a country, wherein schemes of usefulness are not 
only proposed and accepted, but executed. What the author’ 
See were of the year 1716 are not known to the 

tor. ; 


PREFACE. XxXii 


most piercing eye has not yet seen ; and where the 
lions of the strongest resolution have never passed. 

In the mean time, North Britain will be distin- 
guished (pardon me, if I use the term, Goshenized,) 
by irradiations from heaven upon it, of such a tenden- 
cy. There will be found a set of excellent men in 
that reformed and renowned church of Scotland, witk 
whom the most refined and extensive essays to do 
good will become so natural, that the whole world will 
fare the better for them. ‘Fo these, this book is hum- 
bly presented by a great admirer of the good things 
daily doing among them; as knowing, that if no 
where else, yet among them, it will find some recep- 
tion ; they will ‘ not be forgetful to entertain such a 
stranger |? 

The censure of “ writing too much,” (though he 
should go as far as Terentianus Carthaginensis tells 
us Varro did,) he accounts not worth answering. 
And pray, why not also “preaching too much ?” But 
Erasmus, who wrote more, has furnished him with an 
answer, which isall that he ever intends to give ; 
* Accusant quod nimium fecerim ; conscientia mea 
me accusat, quod minus fecerim, quodque lentior fue: 
rim.” In plain English, The censure of others up-. 
braids me that Thave done so much; my own con~« 
science condemns me that I have done so little : the 
good God forgive my slothfulness ! 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD: 


SPHOSHHSDO TOTO TOOOF OOOH ODOT EDHOHODDEODO~ 


MUCH OCCASION. FOR. DOING: GOOD:- 


SUCH glorious things are spoken in the oracles of 
God, concerning them: who devise good, that a’ Book: 
OF GOOD DEVICES may reasonably demand attention: 
and acceptance from.those who-have any impressions: 
of the most reasonable religion.upon them. I am. 
devising such a Book ; but at the same time offering. 
a sorrowful demonstration, that if men: would set 
themselves to devise gocd, a world’of good might be - 
done more than is now done, in this “ present evil: 
world.” Much is requisite to be done that the great: 
God and his Christ may be more known and’ served. 
in the world ; and that the errors which prevent men. 
from glorifying their Creator and Redeemer may be- 
rectified. Much is necessary to be done. that the evilt 
manners.of the world, by which men are drowned in, 
perdition, may be reformed ; and mankind’ rescued: 
from the epidemical corruption which has overwhelm-- 
edit. Much must be done that the iniseries of the- 
world may have suitable remedies provided for them 3: 
and that the-wretched may be relieved and comforted. — 
The‘ world contains, it is supposed, about a thous 
millions. of inhabitants. What an ample field ¢ 
these afford, for doing good!: © Ina word, 
dom of God in.the world. calls for innumerable 
vices from. us. Todo. such things: is to do. Loa 
Those men devise good, who form plans which have 
such a tendency; whether the objects be of a temporal’ 
er spiritual nature. You see the general, matter, ap- 


26 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 

pearing as yet but a chaos, which is to be wrought 
upon. QO! that the good Spirit of God may now fall. 
upon us, and carry on the glorious work which lies: 
before us! 


THE EXCELLENCE OF WELL-DOING. 


Ir may be presumed that my readers will readily ad- 
mit, that it is an excellent thing to be full of devices to 
bring about such noble designs. For any man toderide 
or despise my proposal, “ That we resolve ; and study’ 
to do as much good in the world as we can,” would be 
the mark of.so black a character, that Tam almost 1 an- 
willing to suppose its existence. Let no man pre- 
tend to the name of a Christian, who does not approve | 
the proposal of a perpetual endeavour to do good in | 
the world. What pretension can such a man have 
to be a follower of the Good One? The primitive 
Christians gladly accepted and improved the name, d 
when the Pagans, by a mistake, styled them Chres- 
aus ; 3 because it signified, wseful ones. The Chris- 

who have_no ambition to, be such, shall be con- 
emned by the Pagans; among whom it was.a title 
sfihe highest honour to be termed, a Benefactor :” 

o have done godd, was accounted honourable. The 
philosopher being asked, Why every one desired to’. . 
gaze on a fair object, answered, that the ques» 
tion-of a blind man. If any man ask, Why it is so 
necessary todo good? I must say, it sounds not 
like the question of a good man, The “ spiritual 
taste” of every good man will give him an unspeak- 
able relish for it. Yea, unworthy to be deemed. a 
ye: is he, who is not for doing good among men. 

nm enemy tothe proposal, “ that mankind may be 
iter for us,” deserves to be reckoned little bet- 


gently do I bespeak a a good reception of Ne biatt is now 
designed! I produce not only religion, but even hu- 
manity itself, as full of a“ fiery ree “= 
. the adversaries peel she. the desien. Excuse me, nr my 


declare, that i could b 2zave my choice, I wouldn nev 


ESSAYS TO DO Goon. 27 
at, or drink, Or Walk, with such aone, as long as I 
live ; or look on him as ay other than one by whom 
humanity itself is debased and blemished. A very 
wicked writer has yet found himself compelled, by 
the force of reason, to publish this confession : “ To 
Jove the’public’'; to study the universal good; and to 
promote the interest of the whole world, as far as it 
is in our power, is surely the highest. goodness, 
and constitutes that temper, which we call divine.” 
And he proceéds—“ Is doing good for the sake of 
glory so divine 2” (alas! too much Auman !) “ or, is 
it not more divine to do good, even where it may be 
thought inglorious; even to the ungrateful, and to 
those who are wholly insensible of the good they re- 
ceive?” A man must be far gone in wickedness, 
who will open his’ mouth against such maxims and 
actions! A better pen has remarked it; yea, the 
man must be much a stranger to history, who has not 
made the remark: “ To speak truth, and to do good, 
were, in the esteem even of the heathen world, most 
_ God-like qualities.” God forbid, that there should 
_ be any abatement of esteem for those qualitigsd in n the * 
_ Christian world | : ; 


omer 
‘- eis 


| THE REWARD OF WELL-DOING. 


I witt not yet propose the Rewarp of well do- 
ing, and the glorious things which the mercy and 
truth of God will perform for those who devise good ; 
because I would have to do with such as esteem it 
a sufficient reward to'itself. I will suppose my read- 
ers to be possessed of that ingenuous temper, which 
will induce them to account themselves well reward-. 
ed in the thing itself, if God will permit them to do 
good'in the world. It is an invaluable honour to do 
good ; it is an incomparable pleasure. A man must 
rn Jook pow himself as dignified and gratified by God, 
-awhen anigppertani y to do good is put ito his hands. 
_ He must’embrace it with rapture, as enabling him to. 
er thé great end of’his heing. He must manage 
With rapturous delight, as a most suitalle business, 


4 


28 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


ee eccarerene 


as a most precious privilege. He must “sing in 
those ways of the Lord,” wherein he,cannot ‘but find 
himself while he is doing good. . As the saint-of old 
sweetly sang, “I was glad when they said .unto me, 
let us go into the house of the Lord ;” se.ought we 
to be glad when any opportunity of doing good is pre- 
sented to us. Wershould need no.arguments to in- 
cline us to entertain the offer; but. should -naturally 
fly into the matter, as most agreeable to that ‘‘ divine 
nature” of which we are made partakers. It-should 
gratify us wonderfully ; as much -as.if an ingot of 
gold were presented to us! We should rejoice -as 
having obtained the utmost of our wishes. Some 
servants of God have been so intent on this object, 
‘that they have cheerfully proposed to make any re- 
compense that could be desired, to a friend who 
would supply the barrenness of their-own thoughts, 
and suggest any special methods by which they 
might be useful. Certainly, to do good, is a thing 
that brings its own recompense, in the opinion of those 
who deem information on this head worthy of a re- 
compense. I will only say, ‘that if any of my readers 
-ar ngers to such a disposition as this, and do not 
‘consider themselves enriched and faveuréd of God 
when he employs them in ‘doing good—with such 
persons I have done, and would beg them tolaythé — 
book aside: it will be irksome to carry on any further 4 
conversation with them: it isa subject-on which the 
house:of Caléb will not be conversed with. I swill be | 
content with one of Dr. Stoughton’s introductions; 
“It is enough for.me that I speak to wise men, whose 
reason shall be my rhetoric; to Christians, whose — 
conscience shall be my eloquence.” 7 
Though the assertion may fly like a ahain-shot 
mongst us, and rake down all before it, I will again: 
again assert, that every one of us might ‘do a 
“good than /he does: and therefore this is the fir 
posal I would make. To be exceedingly 7 
that we have done so little good } in the we 
Rot uncharitable i in saying, that’ ‘I know not 
bly of Christians on earth, which ought 
_ Bochim,on-this consideration. ‘O! tell 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 29 


Utopia I shall find it. Sirs ! let us begin to be fruit- 
ful, by lamenting our past unfruitfuiness. Verily, 
sins of omission must be confessed and lamented, or 
else we add to their number. The most useful men 
in the world have gone out of it, crying, “ Lord, for+ 
give our sins of omission!” Many a good man, who 
has been peculiarly conscientious about the profitable 
employment of his time, has had his death bed ren- 
dered uneasy by this reflection, “ The loss of time 
- now lies heavy upon me!” Certain it is, that all un- 
regenerate persons are unprofitable persons; and 
they are properly compared to “thorns and bri- 
ers,’ to teach us what they are. An unrenewed sin- 
ner! alas, he never performed one good work in all 
his life ! In all his Ze, did I say? I recal that word. 
He is ** dead while he liveth’*—he is “ dead in sin ;” 
he has not yet begun to “ live unto God ;” and as he 
is himself dead, so are all his works ; they are “ dead 
works.” QO, wretched, useless being ! Wonder, won- 
der, at the patience of Heaven, which yet forbears to 
cut down such “a cumberer of the ground!” O that 
such persons may immediately acknowledge the ne- 
cessity of turning to God ; and how unable they are 
to do it; and how unworthy they are that God should 
make them able! O that they may cry to God for 
his sovereign grace to quicken them; and let them > 
plead the sacrifice of Christ for their reconciliation to 
God; seriously resolve on a life of obedience to God, 
and resign themselves up to the Holy Spirit, that he 
may lead them in the paths of holiness ! No good 
will be done, till this be done. The jrst-born of all 
devices to do good, is in being born again. 

But as for you, who have been brought home to 
God ; you have great cause not only to lament the 
dark days of your unregeneracy, in which you produ- 
ced only “the unfruitful works of darkness ;”’ but al- 
so that you have done so little, since God has quicken- 
ed you, and enabled you to do better. How little 
have you lived up to. those strains of gratitude which 

_ might justly have been expected from you, since God 
git you into his “ marvellous light !? The best 
D ae 


30 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 
of us may mourn in his chmeleaaal and say, “ O Lord, 
how little good have I done, compared with what I 
might have done !” Let the sense of this cause us to 
loathe and judge ourselves before the Lord ; let it fill 
us with shame, and abase us wonderfully. Let us, 
like David, “ water our couch with tears,” when we 
consider how little good we have done. ‘* O that our 
heads were waters,’’ because they have been so dry of 
all thoughts todo good. “QO that our eyes were a 
fountain of tears,” because they have looked out so lit- 
tle for occasions todo good. Fér the pardon of this 
evil-doing, let us fly to the great Sacrifice, and plead 
the blood. of that “ Lamb of God,” whose universal 
‘escfulness is one of those admirable properties, on ac- 
count of which he is styled*a Lamb.” The pardon 
of our bar renness of good works being thus obtained, 
we shall be rescued from condemnation to perpetual 
barrenness: the dreadful sentence, “ Let no fruit 
grow on thee for ever,” willthus be prevented. A 
true, evangelical procedure to do good, must have this 
repentance laid in the foundation of it. We donot 
* handle the matter wisely” if a foundation be not laid 
thus low, and in the deepest self-abasement. 

How full of devices are we for our own secular ad- 
vantage ! and, how expert in devising many little 
things to be done for ourselves! We apply our 
thoughts with mighty assiduity to the old question, 

‘¢ What shall we eat and drink, and wherewithal shall 

we be clothed ?” With strong application ofmind we 
inquire, What shall we de for ourselves, in our mare _ 
riages, in our voyages, in our bargains? We anxiously 
contrive to accomplish our plans, and avoid numerous 
inconveniences, to which, without some contrivanck, 
we should be obnoxious. Wecarry on the business _ 
of our personal callings, with numberless thoughts — 
how to perform them well ; and to effect our tempo- 
ral affairs we “ find out witty inventions.” But,O 
rational, immortal, heaven-born soul, are Athy 
drous faculties capable of no ereater improveme 
better seugensenns®' ? Why should a soul of su 
capacities, a soul that may be clothed im the * 
of angels, yet “ embrace a dunghill ” 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 8} 
deeper than scarlet, be thy clothing, for being found 
so meanly occupied. Alas, in the multitude of thy 
thoughts within thee, hast thou no disposition to raise 
thy soul to some such thoughts as these, What may be 
done for God, for Christ, for my own soul, and for the 
Most important interests of mankind? How many 
hundreds of thoughts have we for ourselves, to one 
for God, his cause, and his people in the world! 
How then can we pretend that we love him, or prove 
that a emgeah acriminal self-love has not the domin- 
ion over us? I again come toa soul of heavenly ex- 
tract, and smite it, as the angel smote the sleeping 
prisoner, and cry, “ Awake ! shake off thy chains. 

- Lie no longer fettered in a base confinement ! Assert 


the liberty of thinking on the noblest question inthe. 


- 


world, “ What good may I do in the world ?” There ™ 


was a time when it was lamented by nolessa man 
than Gregory the Great, the Bishop of Rome, “ I am 
sunk into the world !” This may be the complaint of 
a soul that minds every thing else, and rarely recol- 
Jects that noblest. question. Ah! “star fallen from 
heaven,” and choked in dust, rise and soar up.te 
something answerable to thy origin. Begin acourse 
of thoughts, which will be like a resurrection from the 
dead ; and pursue the grand inquiry, “ How may I 
‘become a blessing to the world ?” and, “ What mag 
I do, that righteousness may dwell on the earth ?” . 


(fa. hoe 


THE DILIGENCE OF WICKED MEN IN DOING EV 


« How much mischief may be. done by one wicked 
man ! Yea, sometimes, one wicked. man, of slender 
abilities, becoming an indefatigable tool of the devil, 
may effect incredible mischief im world. We have 
seen some wretched instruments; f cursed memory; 
ply the intention of doing mischief at a strange rate, 
ull ener have ruineda whole country. It isa melan- 
holy consideration, and I may say, an*astonishing 
Re: you will hardly find one of a thousand who does 


eae 
23? 


so moch to serve God and his biebad as you: 


32 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 
may see done by thousands to serve the devil. <A ‘ 
horrible thing ! 

“QO my soul, thy Maker, and thy Saviour, so wor- 
thy of thy love, a Lord, whose infinite goodness will 
follow all thou dost for him, with remunerations, be- 
yond all conception glorious ; how little, how little is 
it that thou dost for him ! At the same time, look in- 
to thy neighbourhood. See there, a monster of wick- 
edness, who, to his uttermost, will serve a master that 
will prove a destroyer to him, and whose wages will 
be death: he studies how to serve the devil; he is 
never weary of his drudgery ; he racks his invention 
to go through with it. Ah! he shames me; he 
shames me wonderfully !| “*O my God, I am asham- 
ed, and blush to lift up my face unte thee.” 

We read ofa man ‘* who deviseth mischief upon 
his bed ; who setteth himself in a way that is not 
good.” Now, why should not we be as active, as 
frequent, as forward in devising good? Why should 
not we be as wise to do good, as he is to do evil? 
I am sure that we have a better cause, and better rea- 
sons forit. Reader, though, perhaps, thou art one 
who makest but a little figure in the world, “a broth- 
er of low degree,”’ yet, behald a vast encouragement . d 
a little man may do a great deal of harm ; and pray, 
why may nota little man doa great deal of good ? ? 
It is possible that “ the wisdom of a poor; man” may 
_ start a proposal which may “ savea city,” serve ana- 
tion! A single hair, applied toa flyer that has other 
wheels depending on it, may pull up an oak, or pull 
down a house. 

'Itis very observable, that when our Lord es 
Christ would recommend zeal for the kingdom of 
heaven, he did not propose for our imitation, the ex- 
ample of honest wisdom : no, but that of an unrigh- 
teous and scandalous dishonesty, that of the unjust 
steward. The wisdom of our Lord herein is much to ; 
be observed. His design is not only to represent the 
prudence, but the industry, the ingenuity, the resolu 
_ tion, the heroic efforts of the soul, necessary ao 

who would seek and serve the kingdom fans 
We seldom, if ever, perceive among men tha vivacis — 
bees aS 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. $8 
ty of spirit in lawful actions, which we observe in un- 
lawful ones. The ways of honesty are plain, and re- 
quire not somuch pains in pursuing them ; but your 
thiefs and cheats follow courses that are full of diffi- 
culties ; the turns and tricks which they require are 

_ innumerable: hence you find among such people the 
exercise of extraordinary subtilty : you find no such 
cunning and application any where else. How em- 
phatical then is it, to borrow from these, the colours 
of heavenly wisdom ! What I aim at is this, Let us try 
to do good with as much application of mind, as wick- 
ed men employ in doing evil. When “ wickedness 
proceeds from the wicked,” it isdone “ with both 
hands, and greedily.” Why then'may not we pro- 
ceed in our useful engagements “ with both hands,” 
and “ greedily” watching for opportunities? We 
have no occasion for any sinister arts in effecting our 

_ designs; God forbid that we should ever attempt the 

union of such inconsistences. But why cannot we 

prosecute our designs with as much deep and copi- 
ous thought, as the men of evil arts ? And why may 
we not engage our minds with as transporting a Vvig- 
our to do what is acceptable to God and profitable to 
men, as those wretches manifest, when they “ weary 
themselves to commit iniquity ?” To reprove certain 
ecclesiastical drones, who had little inclination to do 
good, Father Latimer used a coarse expression to this 
effect : “TE you will not learn of good men, ‘for 
shame, learn of the devil ; he is never idle.” Indeedy 
the indefatigable prosecution of their designs, whoare — 
styled “ the chilcren of the devil,” may put us to the’ 

_. blush. Our obligations to do good are infinite + they 

| do evil against all obligations. The com pensati 

_ which will be made to them who do good is encou = 

: aging beyond calculation : they who do evil will. get 

( 


nothing to boast of ; but “ evil pursueth the sitner on 
if the devil “ so about,” and the people inspired’ b: 
him “go about,” seeking what harm_ they may do 3 
ae Duk Pitay not we go about, and think, and seek whede 
and -how we may dofood ? Verily, it were worthy of 

goed angel so to do! O thou child of di and lov- 
D2 


e 


34 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 

er ofall righteousness, how canst thou find im thy 
heart, at any time, to cease from doing all the good 
that can be done, in “ the right ways of the Lord ?” 
Methinks, that word of the Lord may be a burden to 
us, and if we have a sense of honour in us, will be 
so. “ The children of this world are in, (and for) their 
generation, wiser than the children of light ;” yea, 
they pursue “ the works of darkness” more vigorous- 
ly than any of us “walk in that light” with ewitich 
our great Saviour hath favoured ust" 


THE TRUE NATURE OF GOOD WORKS. 


To the-title of Good Works belong those Essays. 
to do Good, which we are now urging. To produce 
them, the frsr thing, and indeed the one thing need- 
ful, is—A glorious work of grace on the soul, renew- 
ing and quickening it, purifying the sinner, and ren~ 
dering him “ zealous of good works ;” “a workman- j 
ship of God” upon us, “ creating us anew,"by Jesus 
Christ, for good works :” and then, there is needful, 
what will necessarily follow such a work,—a dispo- 
sition to perform good works, on true, genuine, gen- 
erous, and evangelical principles. These principles 
must be stated before we proceed. 

In the first place, it must be taken for granted, 
that the end for which we perform good works is not 
to provide the matter of our justification before God : 
indeed, no good works can be done till we are justifi- 
ed; before a man is united to Christ, who is our life, 
hei is a dead man, and what good works ean be ex- 

cted from him? “Severed from me,” saith our 

ord, ye can do nothing.” The justification of a 
esnae by faith, defore good works, and im order to 
y= is one of those doctrines which may say to the 
Popi&h innovations, “ With us are the grey-headed, 
and very aged men much elder than thy father.” : 
It was an old maxim of the faithful, “ Good works 
follow justification; they do not ee 


* Bona opera sequuntur justificatum, non; Junt ju " "ay 
tificandum. * 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 35 
the righteousness of ihe aes works done by our Sa- 
viour and surety, not our own, that justifies us before 
God, and answers the demands of his holy law upon 
us. By faith we lay hold on those good works for 
our justifying righteousness, before we are: able to 
perform our own. It is not our faith itself, either 
as producing good works, or being itself one of them, 
which entitles us to the justifying righteousness of 
our Saviour: but it is faith, only as renouncing our 
own righteousness, and relying on that of Christ, pro- 
vided for the chief of sinners, by which we are jus- 
tified. All our attempts at good works will come to 
nothing, tilla justifying faith in the Saviour shall 
carry us forth unto them. This was the divinity of 
the ancients. Jerom has well expressed it: ‘ With- 
out Christ all virtue is but vice.”’* 

Nevertheless, first, you are to look upon it as a 
glorious truth of the gospel, that the moral law (which 
prescribes good works) must, by every Christian 

alive, be the rude of his life. ‘ Do we make void the 
law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish 
the law.” The rule by which we are to glorify God 
is given us in that law of good works which we enjoy 
(I will so express it) in the ten commandments. It 
is impossible for us to be released from all obligations 
to glorify God, by a conformity to this rule » sooner 
shall-we cease to be creatures. The conformity to 
that rule, in the righteousness, which our Saviour by 
his obedience to it has brought in to justify us, has 
for ever “ magnified the law and made it honourable.” 
Though our Saviour has furnished us with a perfect 
and spotless righteousness, when his obedience to the 
law is placed to ouraccount; yet it is sinful in us to 
fall short in our personal obedience to the law. We 
must always judge and loathe ourselves for the sin. 
We are not under the law. asa covenant of works + 
our own exactness in performing good works is not 
now the condition of entering into life; (wobetous. - 

if it were) but still, the covenane-of grace holds us to — 

"atas our duty: and if we are in the covenant of grace; 

‘ot : — 

_ ® Sine Christo omnis yirtus est in yitio, 


* 


36 ESSAYS TO a Goor. 

we shall make it our stall to perform those good 
works which were once the condition of entering in- 
to life. “ Every law of religion still remains.*” ‘That 
was the divinity ‘of Tertullian’s days! Such must be 
the esteem for the law of good works forever re- 
tained in justified persons ; a law never to be abro- 
gated or abolished. 

And then, secondly, though we are justified by 
“ precious faith in the righteousness of God our Sa- 
viour,” yet good works are required of us to justify 
our faith ; to demonstrate that it is indeed “ precious 
faith.” A justifying faith isa jewel which may be 
counterfeited : but the marks of a faith, which is not a 
counterfeit, are tobe found in those good works to 
which a servant of God is; by his faith, inclined and 
assisted. It is by the regenerating power of the Hely 
Spirit, that faith is wrought in the hearts of the cho- 
sen people >.now the same grace which in regenera~) 
tion disposes a person to fly by faith to the right> 
eousness of Christ, will dispose him also to the good. 
works of a Christian life: and the same faith which 
applies to the Saviour for an interest in his righteeus- 
ness, will also apply to him jor strength to perform 
the good works which are * ordained that we should 
walk in-them.” If our faith be not of this kind, it is 
a lifeless faith, and such as will not bring to life. A 
workless faith is a worthless faith. - 

Reader, suppose thyself standing before the judg- 
ment seat of Christ! a necessary, a prudent suppo- 
Sition ;_ it ought to be avery frequent one. The 
Judge demands, “What hast thou to plead for a 
portion in the blessedness of the righteous?” The 
plea must be, “ O my glorious Judge, thou hast been 

y sacrifice. O thou Judge of all the earth, permit 
dust and ashes to say, my righteousness is.on the 
bench. Surely, in the Lord have l righteousness. 
O my Saviour, I have received ito have secured it 
on thy own gracious offer of it.” The Judge oe 
ceeds; “ But what hast thou to plead that thy faith — 
should not be rejected as the faith of the hypoerite #7, 


| 


* Manet lex tota pietatis, 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 37 
Here the plea must be, “OQ Lord, my faith was thy 
work. It wasa faith which disposed me to all the 
good works of thy holy religion. It sanctified me. 
It brought me to thee, my Saviour, for grace to per- 
form the works of righteousness: it embraced thee 
for my Lord as well as Saviour: it caused me, with 
sincerity, to love and keep thy commandments, and 
with assiduity to serve the interests of thy kingdom 
in the world.” 

Thus you have Pauland James reconciled. Thus 
you have good works provided for. The aphorism 
of the physicians, is, ‘‘ By a man’s outward acts of vig- 
our, you judge of his internal health.”* The actions 
of men are more certain indications of what is within, 
than all their sayings. 

But there is yet another consideration upon which 
you must be zealously affected to good works. You 
must consider them as a fart of the great salvation 
which is purchased for you by Jesus Christ. With- 
out a holy heart you cannot be fit for a holy heaven, 
“ meet for the inheritance of the saints in that light,” 
which admits no works of darkness, where none but 
good works are done for eternal ages: But a holy 
heart will induce a man todo good with all his heart. 
The moito on the gates of the holy city is, ‘ None 
but the lovers of geod works to enter here ;” it is im- 
plied in what*we nens “ without holiness no man 
shall see the Lord:*%.yea, to be saved without good 
works, were to be saved witheut salvation. Much of 
our salyation consists in doing good 1 works. Heaven 
is begun upon earth when we are so engaged; and 
doubtless, no man will get to heaven avho is not so 
persuaded. 

I shall mention but one more of those principles 
from which good works proceed : it is that noble one 
of Grarirupe. The believer cannot but inquire, 
“ What shall I render to my Saviour ?””—the result 0 
the inquiry will Le, ‘with good works to glor ry 
him.” We read, that “ faith worketh by love.” Our 
ae will discover the matchless and marvellous love 


* Per brachium fit judicium de corde. 


38 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 
eevee eseeene 

of Godin saving us! and the faith of this love will 
work on our hearts, till it hath raised in us an un- 
quenchable flame of love to him-who hath so loved _ 
and saved us. These, these are tobe our disposi- — 
tions: “O my Saviour! hast thou done so much for 
me! now will I doall I cam for thy kingdom eer 
people in the world. O! what service is there a 
I may now perform for my Saviour and his ei 
the world ?” 

These are the principles to be proceeded on: and 
it is worthy of special observation, that there are no 
men in the world who so much abound in good works; 
as those, who, above all others, have abandoned every’ 
pretension to the merit of their works. There are 
Protestants who have exceeded Papists in our days,as | 
well as in those of Dr. Willet. No merit-mongers 
have exceeded some holy Christians, who have per- 
formed good works on the assurance of ‘being already 
justified, and entitled to eternal life. ae Ss 

I observe, that our apostle, throwing a just il 
tempt-on the endless genealogies, and long, intricat 
pedigrees, which the Jews of his time dwelt so much 
upon, proposes in their stead “ Charity, out ofa pure 
heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned.:”* 
as if he had said, “T will give you a genealogy worth 
ten thousand of theirs”—first, from faith unfeigned 
proceeds a good conscience ; from a good conscience 
a pure heart ; and from a’pure heart, charity to alk 
around us. It is admirably stated! 

r 


Ir may justly be feared that w we too rarely i inquire 
after " 
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GOOD. | 


-“ 


__ Our opportunities to do good are our talents. An 


account’must be rendered to the great 
concerning 1 ne use of the talents with which he 
intrusted-us in these precious opportunities. 
quently we do not use our opportunities, beea 
do not consider them : they lie by unnoticeda 
improved. We read of a thing which we de 


2 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 39 
often as we behold it. “ There is that maketh him- 
self poor, and yet hath great riches.” This is too 
frequently exemplified in our opportunities to do good, 
which are some of our most valuable riches. Many 
a man seems to teckon himself destitute of these tal- 
ents, as if there were nothing for him todo; he pre- 
tends that he is not in a condition to do any good. 
Alas! poor man, what -cam he do? My friend, 
think again; think frequently : inquire what your 
opportunities are: you will certainly find them to be 
more than you were aware of. “ Plain men dwell- 
ing in tents,” persons of a very ordinary rank in life, 

“may, by their eminent piety, prove persons, of extra- 
ordinary usefulness. A poor John Urich may make 

a Grotius the better for him. I have read of a pious 
_ weaver, of whom some eminent persons would say, 
“ Christ walked, as it were, alive on the earth in that 
_ taan’?? A mean mechanic—Who.-can tell: what an en- 
_ gine of good he may become, if hagably and wisely. — 
_ applied to it? é 2 it 
* This, then, is the» next Proposar.’* ‘Without 
abridging yourselves of your occasional thoughts on 
the question, “ What good may I do to day ?” fixa 
time, now and then, for more deliberate thoughts 
upon it. Cannot you ‘find time (say, once a-week, 
and how suitably on ‘the Lord's day) to take this ques?_ 

: tion into consideratiom®” 

What is there that Imay do for the service of the 

glorious Lord, and for thelelfar ¢ er those Soe “‘tohom I 

ought to be concerned 2. ' 

Having implored eect God, * the Fath- 
er of lights,” consider matter the various as- 
pects of it. Consider till yoo ve resolved : On 
something. Write cena y resohitions. Exaspsl' 
ine what precept and what. promise you; can — 
the word of God to countenatice volar otat 
_ Review these memorials at Proper season ea 1 

how far you have proceeded in the tion, on of 

Phe advantages of these preserved ela” 

mMorials, no rhetoric will be sufficient. o-com 

-apith metic to calculate. . There are’sen 


A 


40 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


which we say, * They know not their own strength ;” 
Christians, why should you be like them ? 


Ler us now descend to Particutars; but let it 
not be supposed that I pretend to an enumeration of 
all the good devices that may be conceived. Nota 
thousandth part of them can now be enumerated. 
The essay I am making is only to dig open the sevy- 
eral springs of usefulness, which, having once begun 
to flow, will spread into streams, that no human fore- 
sight can comprehend. “Spring up, O well !” will 
every true Israelite sing, upon every proposal here 
exhibited ; and ‘ the nobles of Israel”’can do nothing 
more agreeable to their own character, than to fall to 
work upon it. Perhaps every _ proposal that may be 
made will be like a stone falling into a pool— 
circle and service will produce another, till | 
tend—who can tell how far? Those who devote 


themselves to good devices, @nd who duly, observe ; 


their opportunities to do good, usually find a wonder- 
ful increase of their opportunities. The “gracious 
providence of God affords this recompense to his 
diligent servants, that he will multiply their oppor- 
tunities of being serviceable: and when ingenious 
men have used themselves to a little contrivance, in 
pursuing the best intentions, their ingenuity will 
sensibly improve, and there will be more expansion 
in their diffusive applications. Among all the dis- 
pensations of a special providence in the government 
ef the world, none is less interrupted than the ac- 
complishment of that word, “ Unto him that hath 
shall be given.” I will say this, “ Ox useful man! 
take for thy motto, Habenti dabitur”— “Yo him that 
hath shall be given ;” and, ina lively use of thy op- 
portunities to do good, see how remarkably it will be 
accomplished ; see what accomplishment — of that 
word will at test surprise thee, “ Though thy begin- 


ning be small,” yet REE latter end shall greatly ine 


erease,”?” » sy eve 
tof 7 ? ring : a 4 
be ee Phe 


Se Oe 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 4} 


Ooeeesoecene 


ON INTERNAL PIETY AND SELF-EXAMINATION. 


Wuy should not the charity of which we are 
treating, “begin at home?” It observes not a due 
decorum if it doth not; and it will be liable to 
great exceptions in its pretensions and proceedings. 
* Call not that man wise whose wisdom begins not at 
home.”* This then, is to be made an early PRoPposaL, 
First, Let every man devise what good may be 
done for the correction of what is yet amiss, In HIs 
OWN HEART AND LIFE. It is a good remark of the 
witty Fuller ; “ He need not complain of too little 
work, who hath a little world in himself to mend.” 
It was of old complained, “‘ No man repented him, 
saying, What have I done?” Every man upon earth 
may find in himself something that wants correcting 5, 
and the work of repentance is to inquire, not only, 
‘what we have done,” but also, ‘‘ what we have to 
do.” Frequent sedf-ex®mination is the duty of all who” 
would know themselves, or would not lose themselves, 
The great intention of self-examination is to find out 
the points wherein we are to “amend our ways.” 
A christian that would thrive in christianity must be 
no stranger to a course of meditation. This is one 
- of the masters which are requisite to makea ‘man . 
of God.” One article and exercise in our meditation 
should be to find out the things wherein a greater 
conformity to the truths upon which we have been 
meditating, may be attempted. If we would be good 
men, we must often devise how we may grow in 
knowledge and in all goodness. Such an inquiry as 
this should often be made: ‘“ What shall I do, that 
what is yet wen in the image of God upon me, 
may be perfected ‘ What shall I do, that I may live 
more perfectly, more watchfully, i a bes 
fore my glorious Lord ?”’ 4 

And why should not ow petitions Fhen we re i 
me to that: oo engagement, conclude awit ie 


42 ESSAYS TO DO Goon. 


teneneres ane 


With some devout hearers Joe the word, it is a_ 
practice, when they have heard a sermon, to think,” 
‘““ What good thing have Inow to ask of God with a 
peculiar importunity ?” They are also accustomed to 
call upon their children, and make them answer this — 
question: “ Child, what blessing will you now ask of 

_ the glorious God?” After which, they charge them 
to goand do accordingly. 

In pursuance of this piety, why may not this be 
one’of the exercises which shall conspire to form a 
good evening for the best of days? Let it be a part of 
our work on the Lord’s-day evening, seriously to ask - 
ourselves the following question: “If£I should die 
this week, what have I left undone, which I should 
then wish I had been more diligent in performing ?” 
My friend, place thyself in dying circumstances ; 
apprehend and realize thy approaching dissolution, . 
Suppose thy last, solemn hour arrived: thy breath 
failing, thy throat rattling, thy hands with a cold 
sweat upon them—only the turn of the tide expected _ 
for thy expiration. In this condition, “ What wouldst — 
thou Wish to have done more than thou hast already 
done, for thy own soul, for thy family, or for the peo- 
ple of God ?” Think upon this question, and do not 
forget the result of thy thoughts ; do not delay to 
perform what thou hast resolved upon. How much 
more agreeable and profitable would such an exercise 
be on the Lord’s-day evening than those vanities to 
which that evening is too commonly prostituted, and 
by.which all the good of the past day is defeated * 
And ifsuch an exercise were often ‘performed, Q!} 

+ how much would it regulate our lives; how watchful- ~ 
ly, how fruitfully would it cause us to live ; what an 
—incrediblenumber of good works woald it produce in 


the world, ! 
Will you ember, Sirs, that every christian is a my 
“ tenfple-c d!” It would be of great service to 
christianity his notion of its true nature were 
-moré™ frequ htly and clearly cultivated. But cer 


_ tainly there yet remains very much. for every 0 
us to do, that the temple may be carried on to 
fection 5 5 thatit may he repaired, finished, | 


hae" 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 43 


tee nemeuree 


and the topstone of it laid, with 4 Reta of “ grace, 
grace !’ unto it. 

As a branch of this piety, I will recommend a seri- 

“ous and fruitful improvement of the various dispen- 
sations of Divine Providence which we have occasion 
to notice. More particularly : Have you received 
any special blessings and mercies from the hand of 
God ! You do not suitably express your thankfulness ; 
you do not render again according to the benefit that 
is done unto you, unless you set yourself to consider, 
“What shall I render unto the Lord?” You should 
contrive some signal thing to be done on this occa- 
sion ; some service to the kingdom of God, either 
within yourself, or among others, which may be a just 
confession and memorial of what a gracious God has 
done for you. This is an action, to which the “‘ good- 
ness of.God leadeth you.” And I would ask, Héw 
can a good voyage, or a good bargain be made with - 
out some special returns of gratitude to God? I 
would have a portion of your property made a thank- 
offering, by being set apart for pious uses. 

Whole days of thanksgiving are to be kept, when 
the favours of God rise to a more observable height. 
Christians of the finer mould keep their private ones, 
as well as bear part in the public services. One ex- 
ercise for such a day is, to take a list of the more re- 

: markable succours and bounties-with which our God 
has comforted us ; and then, to contrive some suita- 
|. ble acknowledgments of him, in endeavours to serve 
him ; and thisby way of gratitude for these unde- 
| served comforts. 

| On the other hand; you meet with heavy and 

_ grievous afflictions. Truly, itis apity tobe atthe 

trouble of suffering afflictions, and not get good by 
them. We get good by them, when they awaken us 

“ todo good ;” and I may say, never tl then ! “Wh 

God is distributing sorréws to you, the sorrows still 
come upon some errands ; therefore, thé best way for 

you to find that they do not come in his anger, is to 

} der what the errands may be: The advice is, 

any affliction comes upon you, you imme- 

Sbeftect, “ to what special act of repentance does 


44 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. | 


this affliction call me ? What miscarriage dock” this : 
affliction find in me; to be repented of *” And then, ta 
while the sense of the affliction is yet upon you, seri- 
ously inquire, “ to what improvement in holiness and 
usefulness does this affliction call me?” Be more 
solicitous to gain this point than to escape from your 
affiction. O! the peace that will compose, possess, — 
and ravish your minds, when your afflictions shall be 
found yielding these “ fruits of righteousness !” 
Luther did well to call afflictions, “ theologiam 
christianornm’’—“ the theology of christians.” This 
may bea proper place to introduce one direction 
more. We are travelling through a malicious, a ca- 
lumnious, and abusive world. Why should not mal- 
ice be a “ good informer ?” We may be unjustly de- 
famed ; it will be strange if we are not frequently so. 
A‘ defamation is commonly resented as a provocation. 
My friend, make it only a provocation to do good 
works ! The thing to be now directed is this: Upon 
any reproach being offered, instead of being transport- 
ed into a rage at Séimez, retire and patiently inquire, 
** Has not God bidden such a reproach to awaken me 
to some duty? To what special service of piety 
should Ibe awakened, by the reproach which is cast 
upon me ?” One thus expresses it: “ The backbiter’s 
tongue; like a mill-clack, will be still in motion, that — 
he may grind thy good name to powder. Learn, — 
therefore, to make such use of his clack as to make — 
thy bread by it; I mean, soto live, thatno credit 
shall be given to slander.” Thus all @he abuses you 
meet with may prove to you,in the hand ofa faith- 
ful God, no other than the strokes which a statuary 
employs on his ill-shaped marble ; only “to form you 
into a more beautiful shape, and make you fitter to 
adorn the heavenly temple. ‘Thus you higeously"* 
ef a way to “shake off a viper” most advantageously ! 
Yea, lam going to inform you, how you may fetch 
sweetness out of a viper. dustin would haye our 
very sins numbered amongst the “ all things” that | 
are to “ work together for good.” Therefore, | 
propose, that our former barrenness ‘may 
looked upon as an obligation and incitement to 


— 


—— es a oe ee 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 45 


taceeeereere 


fruitfulness. But this motion is too general ; I must 
be more particular. I would look back on my past 
life, and callto mind what singular acts of sin have 
blemished it, and been the reproach of my youth. 
Now, by way of thankfulness for that grace of God 
and that blood of his Christ, through which my 
crimes have been pardoned, I would set myself to 
think, ** What virtues, what actions, and what achiev- 
ments for the kingdom of God, will be the most con- 
trary to my former blemishes ? And what efforts of 
goodness will be the noblest and most palpable con- 
tradiction to the miscarriages with which I have been 
chargeable ?” Yet more particularly, “ What signal 
thing shall I do, to save others from dishonouring the 
» great God by such miscarriages as those into which I 
myself once fell?” I will study such things ; and 
perhaps the sincerity and consolation of repentance 
cannot be better studied than by such a conduct. 

Give me leaye to press this one more point of pru- 
dence upon you. There are nota few persons who 
have many hours of leisure in the way of their person- 
al callings. When the weather takes them off from 
their business, or when their shopsare not full of 
customers, they have little or nothing to do. Now, 

» Sirs, the frrofosal is, “ Be not fools,” but redeem this 
_ time to your own advantage, to the best advantage. 
_ To the man of leisure as well as to the minister, it is 
an advice of wisdom, “Give thyself unto reading.” 

_ Good books of all sorts may employ your leisure, and 
- enrich you with treasures more valuable than those 
which you might haye procured in your usual -avoca- 
: tions. Let the baneful thoughts of idleness be chased 
_ out ofour minds. But then also, let some thoughts 
_ on that subject, “ What good may Ido» ” succeed 
| them. When you have leisure 
: 


ject, you can have noexcuse for neglecting so ve do. 


2% 


_ ON DOING GOOD TO OUR RELATIONS, CHILDREN, &e. 


THE useful man may now with much propriety ex- 


and a the sphere of his exertion. My 
it 4s so 


~~ Butthen the wire also will do well to i 


46 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


eer eeeeesoe 


Next proposal therefore shall be : let every man con- 
sider the RELATION, in which God, the sovereign Ru- 
ler, has placed him ; and let him devise what good he 
may do, that may render his re/atives the better for him, 
One great way to prove ourselves really good, is to be 
relatively good. It is by this, more than by any ae 
else, that we “adorn the doctrine of God ou 
viour.” It would be a piece of excellent wisdom in a 
man, to make the interest which he has in the good 
opinion and affection of any individuals, an advan- 
tage for doing good to them. He that has a friend 
will shew himself friendly indeed, if he think “ Such 
aone loves me, and will hearken to me; to what 
good shall I take advantage from hence to persuade A 
him '” a" 

This will take place more particularly wie the en- 
dearing ties of natural affection give us an interest. 
Let us call over our several rélations, and let us devise 
something that may be called heroical goodness, in 
our discharging them. Why should we not, at least 
once or twice a week, make this relative goodness the 
subject of our inquiries and of our purposes? Es- 
pecially, let us begin with domestic relations, and ~ 
“ provide for those of our own house,” lest we deny 
some glorious rules and hopes of the christian faith, % 
by our negligence. , 

First. In the conyuGAL RELATION, how agreeably 
may they, who are thus united, think on these words ; 

“ What knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt 
save thy husband? or, how knowest thou, O man, 
whether thou shalt save thy wife ?” 

The nusBanp will do well to think ; “ What shall 
I dothat my wife may have cause for ever to bless 
God for having brought her to me ?” And, “ What 
shall Ido, that inmy deportment towards my wife, — 
the kindness of the blessed Jesus towards his church, __ 
may be exemplified?” That this question may Be 
the more perfectly answered, Sir, ask her to assist you 4 
in the answer; ask her to tell you what s she would | 
have you to do. dt ae 


% 


Wherein may I be to my husband a wife of ! 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 47 


eteeesencete 


character—She will do him good and not evil all the 
days of her life ?” 

With my married friends I will leave an excellent 
remark, which [I find in the Memorials of Gervase 
Disney, Esq.—‘ Family passions cloud faith, disturb 
duty, darken comfort.” You will do the more good 
to ome another, the more this sentence is considered. 
When the husband and the wife are always contriving 
to be blessings to each other, I will say with Zertullian, 
“ Where shail I find words to describe the happiness 
of that state !’’* O happy marriage ! 

Parents ! How much ought you to be devising 
for the good of your children. Often consider, how 
to make them “ wise children ;” how to carry on a 


_ desirable education for them, an education that may 


render them desirable ; how to render them lovely 
and polite, and serviceable to their generation. Often 
consider how to enrich their minds with valuable 
knowledge ; how to instil into their minds generous, 
gracious, and heavenly principles ; how to restrain 
and rescue them from the “ paths of the destroyer,” 
and fortify them against their peculiar temptations. 
There isa world of good that you have to do for them. 
You are without the natural feelings of humanity if 
you are not in a continual agony to do for them all the 
good that lies in your power. It was no mistake of 
Packatas Drepfianius,in his panegyric to Zheodasius ; 
% Nature teaches us to love our childrenas ourselyes.’’} 

I will prosecute the subject, by transcribing a copy 
of PARENTAL RESOLUTIONS, Which I have somewhere 
met with. 

I. At the birth of my children, I would use all due 
solemnity in the baptismal dedication and consecration 
of them to the Lord. I would present them to the 
baptism of the Lord, not asa mere formality ; but, 
wondering at the grace of the infinite God, who will 


* Unde sufficiam ad enarrandam falicitatem ejus matrimo- 
ni! 
+t Instituente natura plus fere filios quam: nosmetipsos dili- 


WE Probably composed by the author himself, though ex- 
ssed in this modest manner. — 


48 ESSAYS TO DO GOGD. 


Sov eseeneree 


accept my children as his, 1 would resolve to do all 
that I can that they may be his. I would now actual- 
ly give them up to God, entreating that the child may 
be a child of God the Father, a subject of God the Son,’ 
and a temple of God the Spirit ; that it may be re- 
scued from the condition ofa child of wrath, and*be 
possessed and employed by the Lord, as aneverlast- 
idg instrument of his glory. | 
_ if. As soon as my children become \oapeste of: 
attending to my instructions, I would frequently © 
admonish them tobe sensible of their baptismal en-+ 
gagements to the Lord: often remind them oftheir | 
baptism, and of the duties to which itbinds*them. ¢ 
I would often say to each of them, Child, youhave — 
been baptised; you were washed in the name ofthe — { 
great God ; now you must not sin against him; to | 
sin is to do a very filthy thing. You must every day 
cry to God that he would be your Father, your Sa- 
viour, your Leader; im your baptism he promised 
that he would be so, if you prayed to him. Chiid, 
you must renounce thé service of Satan ; you must 
not follow the vanities of this workt ; you must leada 
life of ‘serious religion ; in your baptism you were 
beund tothe service of your only Saviour, Whatis 
your name? You must sooner forget this name that: 
was given you in your, baptism; than forget that you — 
are a servant of Jesus Christ, whose name was then 
put upon you. ae 
Ili. Let me daily pray for my childrongeith the 
greatest constancy and fervency ; yea, let me daily 
mention each of them by name before the Lord. I 
would importunately beg for all suitable blessings to 
be bestowed upon them ; that God would give them 
grace, and give them giory, and withhold no good | 
thing from them 5 3 that God would smile on owe ed~ ’ 
ucation, and give his good angels charge over them, — 
and keep them from evil, that it may not grieve them ; 
that when their father and mother shall forsake them, 
the Lord may take them up. Mos 
I plead that promise in their behalf ; 
Father will give his Holy Spirit to then 


is a ‘ _” 
ee 


———— | 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 49 


O happy children, if by asking, I may obtain the Ho- 
ly Spirit for them ! 

IV. I would early entertain the children with de- 
lightful stories out ofthe Bible. In familiar conver- 

»sation I would go through the Bible, when the 
“olive-plants about my table” are capable of being so 
watered, But I would always conclude the history by 
some lessons of piety, to be inferred from them. 

V. I would single out some scriptural sentences 
of the greatest importance ; and some also that con- 
tain special antidotes to the common errors and vices 
of children. They shall quickly get these golden 
sayings by “heart, and be rewarded with silver or 
gold, or some good thing, when they do so. Such 
sentences as the following. 

Psalm cxi. 10. 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 
: Matthew xvi. 26. 

What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, 
and lose his own soul ? 

1 Timothy i. 15. 

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, 
of whom I am chief. 

Matthew vi. 6. 
+o Tt into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy 
asd pray to thy Father, which is in secret. ; 
Eccles. xii. 14. 
God shall bring every work into judgment, as 
every secret thing. 
Ephesians v. 25. 
Put away lying, speak every one the truth. 
Psalm cxxxviii. 6. 
The Lord hath respect unto the Paseci but the 
proud he knoweth afar off. 
Romans xii. 17.9% @ | - 
Recompense to no one evil for evil. Dearly be- 
loved avenge not yourselves. 

* Nehemiah xiii. 18. 

They bring wrath upon Israel, by prophaning the 

ath, 

wish tieatis e, quoted by. Worensaill tells us. 

mong the Je ws, whenachild began to speak 


oar 


$0 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


Oweseererces 


the fate was bound to teach him that verse, Deut- 
xxxull, 4. “ Moses commanded usa law, even the 
inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.” O, let me 
betimes make my children acquainted ps the law 
which our blessed Jesus has commanded us ! ‘It is the 
best inheritance I can give them. 

VI. I would cause my children to learn the cate- 
chism. In catechising them, I would break the an- 
swer into many smaller and appropriate questions ; 
and, by their answer to them observe and quicken 
theit 
truth, some duty and practice ; and expect them to 
confess it, consent to it, and resolve upof it. As we 


go on in our catechising, they shall, when they are © 


able, turn to the proofs, read them, and inform me 
what they prove, and in what manner. Then I will 
Watch an opportunity to put more nice and difficult 
questions to them and improve the times of conversa- 
tion with my family, for conferences on religious 
. subjects. 
VII. I would be anxious, till I may be able to say 
of my children, Behold, they pray! I would there- 
fore teach them to pray. But after they have learned 
a form of prayer, I will press them to proceed to 
points which are notin their form. I willshew them 
the state of their own souls ; and on every discovery 
will inquire of them, what they think ought now to 
be their prayer. I will direct them every morning 
to take one or two texts out of the sacred scriptures, 


and thence to forma desire, which they shall add to - 


their usual prayer. When they have hearda ser- 
‘mon; I will repeat to them the main subject of it, and 
ask them thereupon, what they have now te pray for. 
i will charge them, with all possible cegency,to pray 
eret, and often say to each of them, Child, I hope 

ee for get my charge to you about secret 


* 


soe Sa 
prayer; your crime is very great, if you do. 
wy. 


* The Assembly’s Catechism, broken into short qi 
in this manner, was lately ne-published id e Edite F 
Geers « Tie Assembly? s Catechism Dis “ 


x 

> 
See ¥ 
i 
i 


understandings.* I would connect with every — 


—— 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD, 51 


tenn eeeneee . 


VIII. Iwouldbetimes do what I can to produce a 
temper of benignity in my children, both towards one 
another and towards all other persons. I will instruct 


_ them how ready they should be to communicaie to 


others a part of what they have ; andthey shall not 


_ Want for encouragement when they discover a loving, 


courteous, and benevolent disposition. I will give 
them noWand then a piece of money, that with their 
own little hands, they may dispense something to the 
poor. Yea, if any one has hurt or vexed them, I will 


not only forbid all revenge, but will also oblige them 


to do a kindness, as soon as possible, to the vexatious 


‘person. All coarseness of language or behaviour in 


them, I will discountenance. 

IX. I would be solicitous to have my children ex- 
pert, not only at reading with propriety, but also at 
writing a fair hand. I will then assign them such 
books to read, as I may judge most agreeable and 
profitable :-obliging them to give me some account 
oi what they read; but will keep a strict eye on what 
they read, lest they should stumble on the devil’s 
library, and poison themselves with foolish romances, 
novels, splays, songs, or jests, “ that are not con- 
venient.” I will direct them also, to write out such 
things as may be of the greatest benefit to them ; and 
they shall have their blank books neatly kept, on pur- 
pose to enter such passages as I recommend to them. 


_ I will particularly require them now and then to com~ 


pose a Prarer, and bring it to me, that so I may dis- 
cern what sense they have of their own everlasting 
interests. 

X. Iwish that my children may, ata very a ae 
period, feel the principles of reason and Aonour work- 
ing in them; and that I may proceed in their eduea- 
tion, chiefly on those principles. Therefere I will 
wholly avoid that fierce, harsh, crabbed usage of 


children; that would make them dislike and tremble to c 


come into my presence. I would treat them so, that 


they shall fear to offend me, and yet heartily love to” 
s@e me, and be glad of my returning home» en sae 


been abroad. I would have it consit aa 
F -and awful punishment for a crime in the. milyy — 


$2 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


ences soteee 


to be forbidden for a while to come into my presence. 
I would excite in them a high opinion of their father’s — 
love to them, and of his being better able to judge — 
what is good for them, than they are for themselves. 
I would bring them to believe that it is best for them — 
to be and todoas I would have them. Hence I would — 
continually insist upon it, what a charming thing it is, 
to know the things that are excellent, and How much 
‘better still to do the things that are virtuous. I wish 
them to propose it to themselves as a reward of good 
behaviour ; ‘ 1 will now go to my father, and he will 
teach me something that I never knew before.” I 
would have them afraid of doing any base thing, from 
a horror of the baseness there 1s in it. My first 
animadversion on a smaller fault shall be, an exclama- 
tion of surprise and wonder,. vehemently expressed 
before them, that ever they should be guilty of doing 
so foolishly, with an earnest expectation that they will 
never do the like again. I will also endeavour to ex- 
cite in them a weeping resolution to this effect. I 
will never use corporeal punishment, except it be for 
an atrocious crime, or for a smaller fault obstinately 
persisted in. I would ever proportion chastisements 
to faults; not punish severely fora very small in- 
stance of childishness; end only frown a little for 
some real wickedness. Nor shall my chastisements 
ever be dispensed in passion and fury ; but I will first 
shew them the command of God, by transgressing 
which, they have displeased me. The slavish, boister- 
ous manner of education too commonly used, I con- 
sider as no small article in the wrath and curse of 
God upon a miserable world. 

XI.. As soon as we can, we will advance to still 
higher principles. I will often tell the children what | 
cause they have to love a glorious Christ who has 
died for them ; how much he will be pleased with 
their well-doing ; and whata noble thing iti 
follow his example, which example I will deseri 
them. I will often tell them that the eye of Go 
upon them ; that he knows all they do, and hears 
they speak. Iwill frequently remind them 
will be a time;when they must appear befor 

a 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 53 


etn eseetatee 


Lord ; and that they must zow do nothing which may 
then be a source of grief and shame tothem. I will 
set before them the delights of that heaven which is 
prepared for pious children ; and the torments of that 
hell which is prepared for wicked ones. I will in- 
form them of the kind offices which the good angels 
perform for children who fear God, and are afraid of 
sin ; how the devils tempt them todo bad things 5 
how they hearken to the devils, and are like them 
when they do such things ; what mischiefs these evil 
spirits may obtain permission to do in the world, and 
how awful it would be to dwell among the devils, in 
the “place of .dragons.” I will cry to God, that he 
may make them feel the power of these principles. 
XII. When the children are of a proper age for 
it, 1 will sometimes have them with me alone, and 
converse with them about the state of their souls; 
their experiences, their proficiency, their temptations ; 
obtain their declared consent to every article in the 
covenant ofgrace ; and then pray with them, earn- 
estly entreating, that the Lord would bestow his 
grace upon them, and thus make them witnesses of 
the agony with which I am travailing to see the image 
of Christ formed in them. Certainly they will never 
forget such exercises as these ! 
XIII. I would be very watchful and cautious sie 
_ the companions of my children. I would be very in- 
_ quisitive to learn what company they keep. If they 
_ are in danger of being ensnared by vicious company, I 
will earnestly pull them out of it, as “ brands out of 
the burning ;” and will try to procure for them fit and 
useful associates. 

XIV. As in catechising the children, so in the 
repetition of the public sermons, I would use this 
method : I would put every truth into the form of a. 
question, to be answered with yes, orno. By this 
method I hope to awaken their attention, as wellas 
enlighten their understandings. And thus I shall 
: an opportunity to ask, Do you desire such and 
a grace ! with other similar questions. Yea, I 
by this means have an opportunity to demand, 


F 


H 
y 


a a oe eT F _— 


54 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 

and perhaps to obtain, their early, frequent, and, 7 
would hope, sincere consent to the glorious articles of 
the new covenant. The Spirit sof grace may fall up- 
on them in this action, and they may be seized by 
him, and ‘possessed by him as his temples, through 
cternal ages. 

“XV. When a day of humiliation arrives, I will 
make them know the meaning of the day ; and after 
some time given them to consider of it, I will require 
them totell me, what special afflictions they have 
met with, and what good they hope to get by those 
afflictions. Ona day of thanksgiving, they shall also 
be made to know the intent of the day 5 andaftercon- | 
sideration, they shall inform me, what ieee God 
to them they take special notice of, and what duties to 
God, they confess and resolve to poHiiekn under such | 
obligations. Indeed, for something of this import- ; 
ance, to be pursued in my conversation withthem,[ ~ 
would not confine myself to the solemn days, which — 
may occur too seldom for it ; but, particularly, when 
the birth-days of any of the children arrive, I would ; 

A 


take them aside, and remind them of the age, which, 
having obtained help of God, they have attained ; and 
tell them how thankful they should be for the mercies — 
of Ged, upon which they have hitherto lived ; and 
Low fruitful they should be in all goodness, that so 
they may still enjoy their mercies. And I would 
inguire of them, whether they have ever yet begun to 
mind the work which God sent them into the world — 
to perform ; what attempts they bave made towards 
it; andhow they design to spend the rest of their 
time, if God continue them in the world. 
XVI. When the children are in any trouble, wheth- 
er sickness or otherwise, J will take sdvantage. of the 
occasion, to set before them the evil of sin, the cause 
of all our trouble ; and will represent to dito 
fearful a thing it will be, to be cast among the mined, ~ 
who are in unceasing and endless trouble. T bas € 
‘before them the benefit of an interest in Chris 
which their trouble will be ey 
they will be prepared for death, and 


‘ 


in a happy eternity after death. 


_—. i= = —————— 


ESSAYS. FTO DO GOOD. hoe 


Peete rt eeeee 


KVII. Lwish, that among, all the branches of a 
polite education, which I would endeavour to give my 
- children, each of them, the daughters as well a5 the 

Sons, may have so much acquaintance ‘ith some 
profitable avocation (whether it be painting, or the 
nae or medicine, or any other employment to which 
their own inclination may the most lead them,) that 
they may he able to obtain for themselves.a comforta- | 
ble subsistence, if by. the providence of God, sad 
shouldever be brought into.destitute circumstan 
Why should not. bhey. be thus instructed as Cah ge as 
Paul, the tent-maker ! Children of the highest rank 
may haye occasion to bless their parents who mace 
‘such a provision for them. The Jews haye a saying 
on this subject, which is worthy to be mentioned: 
“ Whoever teaches not his son sometrade or busi-- 
ness does in reality teach him to be a thief.’’* 

XVIII. As early as possible, I would make my 
children acquainted with the chief end for which they 
are to live ; that so their youth may not be altogether: 
vanity. I would shew them that their chief end must 
be to acknowledge the great God, and to oS ring others 
' to acknowledge him ; and that they are never act- 
_ ing wisely nor well, but when they are so doing. I 
. would shew them,«what these acknowledgments are, - 
and how they are tobe made. [ would make them 
able to answer the grand question, “ For what pur- 
pose do you live ; and what is the vi, of the actions 
that employ your lives.‘ I would teach them how 
their Creator and Redeemer is to 4 obeyed in every 
thing, and how every thing is tobe done in ebedience 
to him ; I would instruct them in what manner even 
their diversions, their ornaments, and the tasks of 
their education, must all be managed to fit them, for 
the further service of. Him to whom I have devoted 
them, 2nd hew, in these also, his commandments. 
must be the rule ofall they do.. I would therefore 
sometimes surprise them. with an. inquiry, “ Child, 
What is this for ? Give me a good account why you 
‘ bi it’ Hew comfortably shall 1 wae  , ee 


56 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


eeereeseeens 


in the light,’* if I may bring them wisely to answer 
this questions ; and what “ children of the light” they 
will be ! 

XIX. I would sometimes oblige the children to 

retire, and ponder on that question ; “* What should I 
wish to have done, if 1 were now dying ?” After they 
shall have reported to me their own answer to the 
question, I will take occasion from it, to inculcate 
upon them the lessons of godliness. I would also 
direct and éblize them, at a proper time, seriously to 
realize their own appearance before the awful judg- 
ment-seat of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to consider, 
what they have to plead that they may notbesent — 
away into everlasting punishment ; what they have to 
plead, that they may be admitted into the holy city. 
I would instruct them what plea to prepare: first, 
shew them how to geta part in the righteousness of 
him who is tobe their Judge, by receiving it with a 
thankful faith, as the gift of infinite grace to the dis< 
tressed and unworthy sinner: then shew them how 
to prove that their faith is genuine by their continual 
endeavour in all things to please him who is to be 
their Judge, and to serve his kingdom and interest in 
the world. And I would charge them to make this 
preparation. 

XX. Ifflive toisee the children arrive at a mar- 
riageable age, I would, before I consult with heaven 
‘or earth for their best accommodation in the married 
state, aim atthe espousal of their souls to” their only 
Saviour. I would, as plainly and as fully as I can, 
propose to them the terms on which the glorious 
Redeemer will egpouse them to himself, in right~' 
eousness and judgment, favour and mercies forever ; 
and solicit their consent to his proposal and over- 
tures : then I would proceed to do what may be ex- — 
pected from a tender parent for them, in their ar 
ral circumstances. nails 4 

From these parental resolutions, how reasonably, : 
how naturally, may we pass on to say, 

Critpren, the fifth commandment confirms all 
your other numberless and powerful obligations often 
to inquire, “ Wherein may I be a blessing to my pats _ 


BSSA¥S TO -DO GOOD. tg 


ents ?” Ingenuousness of disposition would make this 
the very summit of your ambition, to bea credit anda 
comfort to your parents ; to sweeten, and it may be, 
to lengthen the lives of those, from whom, under God, 
you have received your own. And God, the Reward- 
er, usually gives to such a conduct, even in this life, a 
most observable recompense. But it is possible, you 
may be the happy instruments of more -than.a little 
good tothe souls of your parents. Yea, though they 
shouldbe pious parents, you may, by some delicate 
methods, be the instruments of their growth in piety 
and preparation for. the heavenly world. Happy, 
thrice happy children, who are thus favoured ! Among 
the Arabians, a father sometimes takes his name from 
an eminent son, as well asa son from bis reputable 
father. Truly, a son may be. such a blessing to 
his father, that the best sirname for the glad father - 
would be, ‘‘ the father of sucha one.” 

Masters, yea, and Mistresses too, must have - 
their devices, how to do good to their servants ; how to 
moske them the servants of Christ, and the children of 
God. God, whom you must remember to be “ your 
Master in heaven,” bas brought them to you, and pla- - 
ced them under your care. Woo can tell for-what 
eood he has brought them ?_W hat if they should be the - 
elect of God, fetched from different parts, ahd brought 
into your families, on purpose, that by means of their 
situationythey may be brought home. to the Shepherd 
of souls } O that the souls ofour.servanis were more 
regarded by us! that. wegmight give’a better damon- 
stration that we despise £ own souls, by doing - 
what we can for the souls Our servants | How can ~ 
we pretend to christianity, when we do no more to 
cbristianise our servants | Verily, you must give an 
account teGod concerning them. If they should be 
lost through your negligence, what answer can you 
make to “ God, the Judge ofall!” Methinks, com- 
mon principles.of gratitude should incline you to study 

_ ;-the happiness of those, by whose labBurs ycur livesare 
so much eccommedated. Certainly, he agile te 

tter senvants to-you, more fsicbiuls Lonegp iréustii- 
Wee , ; 


~ 


; ~ 


Tie 


58 ESSAYS TO DO 10 Boon. 


ous, and Lviiahiees for your "binging them into the 
service a4] your common Lord.* 


= * 
ON DOING GOOD TO OUR SERVANTS. 

I HAVE somewhere met with a paper under this title, 
the RESOLUTION OF A MASTER}; which may be proper- 
ly inserted in this place.+ ce 

I. L£ would always remenibin, that my servants. 
are, in some sense, my children 3 and by taking care 
that they want nothing which may be good for them, 
Iwould make them as my children ; and; as far as 
the methods of instilling piety into the mind, which 
Tuse with my children, may be properly and prus 
dently used with my servants, they shall be partakers — 
in them. Nor will I leave them ignorant of any 
thing, Wherein I may instruct them to be nacful to 
their generation. 

II. Iwillsee that my servants be fataratied with 
Bibles, and be able and careful to read the lively ora 
cles. I will put Bibles and other good and proper 
books into their hands ; will allow them time to read, 
and asstire myself that they do not mispend this. time. 
Iflcan discern any wicked books in their hands, I 
will take away from them those pestilential i instru- 
ments of wickedness. They shall also’*write as well 
as read, if I may be able to bring thefi to it. And I 
will appoint them, now and then, such things to write, 
as may be for their greatest advantage. 

lil. Iwill have my servants present at the re- 
ligious exercises of my family ; and will drop, either 
in the exhortations, in the prayers, or in the daily 
sacrifices of the family, such passages as May havea — 
tendency to quicken a sense of religion ngs y 

t % @ 

on the original work, some observations are sibide in this. a 
place with respect to the usage. of slaves ; but as the subject 4 
has happily no connexion “with our country, the yieenge t 
here omitted. 

t The modesty of the author thus expresses, PI 
own production. 


ESSAYS TO BDO GOOD. 59 


Pe eaten eesee 


FV. The article of catechising, as far as the age 
or state of the servants will permit it to be dene with 
decency, shall extend to them also. And they shall 
be concerned in the conferences in which I may be 
engaged with my family, inthe repetition of the pub- 
lic sermons. If any of them, when they come to me, 
shall not have learned the catechism, I will take care 
that they do it, and will give them a reward when they 
have accomplished it. 

V.. I will be very inquisitive and solicitous about 
the company chosen by my servants; and with all 
possible earnestness will rescue them from the snares 
of evil company, and forbid their being the “ compan- 
ions of fools.” 

_ Vi. Such of my servants as may be capable of the 

task. 1 will employ to teach lessons of piety to my 
children, and will recompense them for so doing. 
But I would, bya particular artifice, contrive them 
to be such lessons as may be for their own edification 
too. : 

Vil. I will sometimes call my servants alone ; 
talk to them about the state of their souls ; tell them 
how to close with*their only Saviour ; charge them to 
do well, and “lay hold on eternal life ;” and shew 
them very particularly how they may render all they 
do for me; aservice to the glorious Lordy how they 

may do ail from a principle of obedience 3 him, a i 
become entitled to the “ reward of the-heavenly in= ~~ 
heritance.” 

To these resolutions Ladd the following passes 
as-an Appendix. 

Age is nearly sufficient, with some masters, to 
obliterate every ‘letter and action in the history ofa 
meritorious life; and old services .are generally 
buried under the ruins of an old carcase. It is a bar- 
barous inhumanity in men towards their servants, to 
account their small failings as crimes, without al- 
Jowing their past services to have been virtues. Gra- 
‘cious God, keep thy servant from such base 4 ‘ingrati- 
_tade ! 
~ But then, O servants, if be would obtain “the 
eward of the inheritance,” each of you should set 


tae 


again 3 3 
handm 


60 


yourself to inquire—‘“ How shall eiop colt nayself ; 
such a servant that the Lord may bless the house of 
my master the more for my being init?” Certainly, 
there are many ways in which servants may become. 
blessings. Let your studies, with your -contipual 
prayers for the welfare of the families 10 which you 
belong,.and the example of yeur sober carriage, ren- 
der yousuch. If you will but remember four words, 


and attempt ail that is comprised inthem,, == 


OBEDIENCE, HONESTY, INDUSTRY, aNd PIETY, ~ 
you will be the d/eesings and the Josefhs of the fami- 


Ties in which yau Jive. | Let thése four words be dis- 


tinctly and frequently recollected; and cheerfully 
perform all your business, on this, consideration—that 
it is‘an obedience to Heaven, and from thence will 
have a vps ait pak It was the observation even of a 
Fagen, “tat a master may receive a benefit from a 
servant ;”” at “‘ What is done 4vith the affection of 
a friend, ceases to be the act of a mere servant.”* 
Even the MAID SERVANTS of the house may render 3 a 
great service to. it, by instructing the infants; and in- - 
stilling imo their minds, the lessons of goodness. 
Thus, by Bithch and Zilpab, may children be born 
us the mistresses, by the travail ef their 
nay have children brought into the: ‘Ring: - 7 


i! proce ced—Humanity teaches us to take notice of © 


4 i 3 our kindfed. | Nature bespeaks what ‘we calla . 


ural affection?’ to all who are a-kin to us : ‘to be 
tute of it #s'a very bad character; it ts abrand | 


on the worst of men,. on such as forfeit the name of. 


mun. But christianity: is intended to improve it. 
Our natural affection is to be improved | into a relig- ! 
ious intention. Reader, make a catalogue of all your — 
more distant relatives. Consider them one » Sees 3a 
and make each of them the, subject of yo 
devices.” Ask this question : “ How m 
‘the good of such | ‘a Relatives By what 
render such a relative the better for me 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD, 61 
ble that you may do something for your relatives 
which may afford them cause to bless God for your 
relation to them. Have they no calamity under 
which you may give them relief? Is there no tempta- 
tion against which you may give them some caution? 
Is there no article of their prosperity to which you 
may be subservient ? At least, with your affectionate 
prayers, you may go over your catalogue ; you may 
pray for each of them successively by name ; and why 
may you not put proper books of piety into their 
hands, to be durable memorials of their duties to 0 God, 
and of your desires for their good ? 


aeniaionesl 


ON DOING GOOD TO OUR NEIGHBOURS, 


Turs excellent zeal should be extended to the 
NEIGHBOURHOOD. - Neighbours! you stand related 
to each other ; and you should contrive how others 
should have reason to rejoice in your neighbourhcod. 
“The righteous is more excellent than his neigh- 
bour ;” but we shall scarcely allow him to be so, un- 
less he be more excellent esa neighbour: he must 
excel in the duties of good neighbourhood. Let that 
man be better than his neighbour, who labours most 
to be a better eon ecer et do mest.g@od to his ¢ 
neighbour. e 

And here, first, the poor people that uni 
must have oil and wine poured into their woum 4, 
Tt wasa charming trait in the character of amodernh — 
prince— To be in distress is to deserve his favour.” 
O good neighbour ! put on that princely, that more 
than royal quality. See who in the neighbourhood 
may thus deserve thy favour. We are told that 
“ pure religion and undefiled (a jewel not counterfeit- 
ed, and withouta flaw,) is to visit the fatherless and 
widows in their amidtion.” The.orphans and the wid- 
ows, and all the children of affliction in the neigh- 
‘bourhood, must be visited and relieved with all — 
eighbours ! be -concerped that the orphans and 

widows may be well provided for. They meet 


62. ESSAYS TO 


with grievous difficulties, wil ESS temptations.. 
When their nearest relatives: were living, they were, 
perhaps, but meanly provided for what then must be 
their present solitary condition ? That condition 
should be weli ronsienags ; and the result of the con- 


‘sideration should be, “ I delivered the orphan who had 


no heiper, and 1 caused the widow's heart to sing for 


joy.” 

By the same rule, all the afflicted in the neighbour- 
hood are to be considered. Would it be too much 
for you once-in a week, at least, to think “ What * 
neighbour is reduced to pinching and painful poverty, 
or impoverished with heavy losses ? What neighbour 
is languishing with sickness, especially with severe 
disease, and of long continuance ? What neighbour is 
broken-hearted with the loss of a dear and desirable 
relative? What neighbour has a soul violently assault-. 

ed by the enemy of souls?” and then consider, 
“ Whatrean be done for such neighbours !” 

In the first place, you will pity them, The evangeli-. 
cal precept is, “* Have compassion one of another— 
be pityful.” It was of old and ever will be a just ex- 
pectation,,“‘ To him that is afflicted, pity we 4 
shewn ;”’ and let our pity to the distressed be exp 
ed by our‘prayer for them, It wonld bea very love- 
ly practi r you in the daily prayer of your closet 
g to think, “ Whet miserable object have 
for whom 1, may do, well now to entreat 
mercies of the Lord ¢” But this is nat all; itis 
ossible, nay probable, that you may do well to visit 


‘them ; ; and when you visit them, comfort them ; 


carry them some, good word, which, may raise glad-. 
mess in a heart stooping with heaviness. 

And, lastly : Render them all the assistance which 
their necessities may require. Assist them by your 
advice; assist. them by obtaining the help of other 
persons on their behalf; and, if it be needful, bestow 
your ALMs upon them; “Deal thy bread to the 
hungry; bring to thy house the peer that are cast 
out; when thou seest the naked cover him: at P 
exercise WVazianzen’s charity; “Si nibil: h 
lacrymulam ;” “If you haye nothing: ; 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 68 


FPR ee arse eeee 


‘upon the miserable, bestow a tear or two upon their 
|) miseries.” This little is better than nething. 

Would it be amiss for you, always to have lying by 
you, a list of the poor in your neighbourhood, or of 
those whose calamities may call fer the assistance of 
the netzhbourhood? Such a list would often furnish’ 
you with matter for aseful conversation, when you are 
conversing with your friends, whom you may hereby 
*“ provoke to love and to eens works.” 
| I will go on to say, Be glad of opportunities to do 
» goodin your neighb ourhood: yea, look out for them ; 
lay hold on them with a rapturous assiduity. Be sors 
ry for all the sad circumstances of your neighbour 
which render your exertions necessa ry 5 yet, be glad, 
if any one tell you of them. Thank him who gives 
you the information, as having therein done youa 
very great kindness. Let him know that he could 
/ not, by any means, have obliged you more,” Cheer- 
fully embrace every opportunity of shewing civility to 
your neighbours, whether by lending, by watching, or 


by any other methodin your pow ec. And let the 
pleasantness of your countenance prove ti 
this willingly : “ Cum munere vultum 
wisdom cause your face te shine.” L 
| neighbours, not with a cloudy, but with 
) shining face ; and shed the rays of y 
upon them, with such affability, that they m ey 
are welcome to all you can-do forthem. Yea,’ stay 
not until you are told of opportunities to do good, bu 
inquire after them, and lef the inguiry be solieiteae 
and unwearied. The incomparabley pleasure which 
attends the performance of ‘cts of eecno lene is 
worth a diligent inquiry. TRS 

There was a generous Pagan, who pEeMied a day. 
lost, in which he had not obliged some one. “yp riends, 
IT have lost a day !”* O Christian, Jet us try whether we 
 €annot contrive to do something for one or other of 
| cur neighbours, every day that passes over our heads.) _ 
ome do so; and with a better spirit than ever actuated” 
iis Vespasian. Thrice, in thescriptures, we find 


* Amici, diem’ perdidi. 


64 


the good angels rejoicing ; it is always at the good of 
others. To rejoice in the good of others, and especial- 
ly in doing good to them, is angelical goodness. 

In promoting the good of the neighbourhood, I 
wish above all, that you will consult their spiritual 
good. Be concerned lest “ the deceitfulness of sin” 
should destroy any of your neighbours. If there be 
any idle people among them, take pains to cure them 
of their idleness : do not nourish and harden them in 
it, but find employment for them ; set them to work, 
and keep them to work; and then be as bountiful to 
them as you please. 

If any poor children in the neighbourhood are to- 
tally destitute of education, do not suffer them to re- 
main in that state. Let care be taken that they may 
be taught to read, to learn their catechism, and the 
truths and ways of their only Saviour. 

Once more. If any persons in the neighbourhood 
are taking to bad courses, affectionately and faithfully 
admonish them: if any act as enemies to their own 
welfare, or that of their families, prudently dispense 
your adr imonitions to them: if tltere be any prayerless 
families, 5) Cease not to entreat and exhort them, till you , 
have persuaded them to commence domestic worship. 
If there be any service of God or his pecple, to which 
any on ckward, tenderly excite him toit. What- 
ever sn u perceive a neighbour exposed to, be so 
md as to warn him against it. By furnishing your 
Neighbours with good books or tracts, and obtaining 
the:r promise to read them, who can tell how much 
good may be done! It is possible, that in this way, 
you may administer with ingenuity and efficacy, such 
reproofs as your neighbours may need, and without 
hindering your personal conversation with them on 
the same subjects, if they need your particular advice. 

Finally, ifttbere be any bad houses, which threaten” 
to debauch and poison your neighbours; let your 
charity induce you to exert yourself as much as pos- 
sible for their suppression. 

That my proposal “ to do good in the neighbour-_ 
hood, and as a neighbour,” may be more fully fo med — 
and followed, I will conclude by sete. you th 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 65 


much self-denial will be requisite in the execution of 
jt; you must be armed against all selfish intentions 
in these generous attempts. You must not employ 
your good actions as persons use water, which they 
pour intoa pump, to draw up something for your- 
selves. Our Lord’s directien is, ‘“ Lend, hoping for 
nothing again,”* and do good to such as you are nev- 
er likely to be the better for. 

But then, there is something still higher to be re- 
quired ; that is, ‘‘-Do good to those neighbours who 
have done you harm ;” ‘so saith our Saviour, ‘ Love 
your enemies ; bless them that curse you; do good 
to them that hate you, and pray for them that despite- 
fully use you, and persecute you.” Yea, ifan injury 
have been done you by any one, consider it-as a prov- 
ecation to confer a benefiton him. Thisis noble! It 
will afford much consolation. Some other method 
might make you even with your froward neighbours ; 
but this will place you above them all. It were nobly 
done, if in your evening retirement you offer a pe- 
tition te God for the pardon-and prosperity of any 
person who has injured-you in the course of the day: 
and it would be excellent if, in looking over the cata- 
logue of such’as have injured you, you should be able 
to say, (the only iritentiqn that can justify your keep- 
ing such a catalogue,) There is not one ef these, to 

‘whom I have not done, or attempted to do, a kind- — 
ness. Among the Jews themselves, the Hasideans” na 
offered this daily petition to-God, “ Forgive all whe — 
trouble and harass us.”+ Christians, exceed them : 


: 


—e 


* To /end a thing, is, properly, to hofe that we shall receive 
‘it again; and this probably refers to the eran1sMos, or Col- 
| lation, usual among the ancients, of which we find frequent 
Mention in history. If any man by a fire, shipwreck, or 
other disaster, had lost-his estate, his friends used to lend 
| him a considerable sum to be repaid, not at a certainday, but 

when he should find himself able, with conyenituce to repay 
_ it. Now persons would rarely lend on such occasions, unless 
| they had some reason to hope they should again receive their 
‘Toney, and that the person to whom it was lent, should also 
vequite their kindness, if they should ever need it... 


i ne Be li 
66 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 
Seereeeeeneee 

Justin Martyr tells us they did so in primitive times 
—‘ they prayed for their enemies.” oles 

But I must not stop here; something higher still 
is requisite. Do good to those neighbours who will 
speak evil of you for doing so: “ Thus,” saith our 
Saviour, “ ye shall be the children of the Highest,: 
whois kind to the unthankful, and to the evil.” You- 
will constantly meet with Monsters of Ingratitude ; 
and if you distinguish a person, by doing far more for 
him than for others, that very person perhaps will do 
you an injury. O the wisdom of Divine Providence, 
by which this is permitted, that you may learn to do 
good on a divine principle—good, merely for the sake 
of good! “ Lord, increase our faith !” — 

There is a memorable passage in the Jewish re- 
cords. A certain gentleman was remarkably gener- 
ous, and many persons were constantly relieved by 


his bounty. One day he asked the following ques- — 


tion: “ Well, what do our people say to day?” The 
answer was, ‘“ Sir, the people partook of your favours, 
and blessed you very fervently.” “ Did they so?” 
said he, ‘* Then I shall have no great reward for this 
day.” At another time, he asked the same question— 
“ Well, and what say our people now !” They replied, 
* Alas! good Sir, the people enjoyed your favours to- 


day,and after all,theydid nothing but railat you.” “In- 


sed !” said he, “ then for this day I am sure that God 
il give me a good and a great reward.” Thus then, 
ough vile constructions and harsh invectives should 
be the present reward of your best offices for the neig 

bourhood; yet be not discouraged : “ Thy work shall 
be rewarded,” saith the-Lord. If your opportunities to 
do good extend no further, yet I will offer you a‘con- 


solation, which a certain writer has thus elegantly ex-— 
pressed: ‘“* He who praises God only on a ten string- — 


ed instrument ; whose authority extends no further 
than his own family, nor his example beyond his own 


neighbourhood, may have as thankful a heart here, — 
and as high a place in the celestial choir hereafter, as_ 


the greatest monarch, who praises God upon ah in-/ 


be BD 


& 


ay 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 67 


Pee eeeerenee 


strument of ten thousand strings, and upon the loud 
sounding organ, having as many millions of pipes as 
there are subjects in his empire.” 


PRIVATE MEETINGS FOR RELIGION. 


We cannot dismiss this part of the subject, with- 
out offerings a Proposal to animate and regulate 
Private Mererrincs of religious persons, for the .* 
exercises of religion. It is very certain that when 
such private meetings have been maintained, and 
well conducted, the Christians who have composed 
them have, like so many “ coals of the altar,” kept 
one another alive, and been the means of maintaining 
a lively Christianity in the neighbourhood. Such 
societies have been strong and approved instruments, 
to uphold the power of godliness. The disuse of 
such societies has been accompanied with a visible 
decay of religion: in proportion as they have been 
discontinued or disregarded in any place, the less has 

_ godliness flourished. 

The rules observed by some AssocraTED Fa- 
MILIES may be offered with advantage, on this occa- 
sion. ‘They will shew us what good may be done in 
a neighbourhood, by the establishment of such so- 
cieties. Byte 

: 1. It is proposed, That a select number of families, © 
perhaps about twelve, agree to meet, (the men and 
their wives) at each other’s houses alternately, once 
in a fortnight or a month, or’otherwise, as shall be 
thought most proper, and spend a suitable time to- 
gether, in religious exercises. 

2. The exercises of religion proper for such a 
meeting are; for the brethren in rotation =te com- 
‘mence and conclude with prayer; for psalms, to. be 
sung 5 ; and for sermons to be repeated. wee 
_ -8. It were desirable, for the ministers, now and. 
nen; to be present at the meeting, and pray with 
m, instruct and exhort them, as they may see 
casion. 


ye 


68 ESSAYS -TO DO GOOD. 


4. Candidates for the ministry may do well to per- 
form their first offices here, and thereby prepare 
themselves for further services. vaasihtaadidis 

5. One special design of the meeting should be 
with united prayers to ask the blessing of Heaven on 
the family where they ape assembled, as. wellas on: 
the rest: that with the wondrous force of united 
prayers, “two or three may agree on earth, to-ask 
such things” as are to be done for the families, by 
“ our Father which is in heayen.” 

6. The members of such a society should consider 
themselves, as bound up in one “ bundle of love ;” 
and count themselves obliged, by very close and 
strong bonds, to be serviceable to one another. If any 
one in the society should fall into affliction, all the rest 
should presently Study to relieve and support the 
afflicted person in every possible way. If any one 
should fall into temptation, the rest should watch over 
him, and with the “ spirit of meekness,” with “ meek- 
ness of wisdom,” endeavour to recover him: It 
should be like a law of the Medes*and Persians to the 
whole society,—that they will, upon all just occasions, 
affectionAtely give and receive mutual admonitions of 
any thing that they. may see amiss in each other. 

7. It isnot easy to calculate the good offices which 
such a society may do to many other persons, besides 

‘itsown members. The prayers of such well-disposed 
“societies may fetch dewn marvellous favours from. 
heaven on their pastors; their lives may be prolong-_ 
ed, their gifts augmented, their graces brightened, © 
and their Jabours prespered, in answer to the suppli-_ 
cations of such associated families. "The interests of - 
religion may be also greatly promoted in the whole 
flock, by their fervent supplications ; and the Spirit 
of grace mightily poured out upon the rising genera~_ 
tion ; yea, the country at large may be the better for 
them. ial eae 

8. The society may, on peculiar occasions, 
apart whole days for fasting and prayers The s 
cess of such days has been sometimes very ren 
able, and the savour which they have lef on th 

re ‘ae 


rey | | 
# 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 69 


minds of those who have engaged in them, has been 

such, as greatly to prepare them to ‘‘ show forth the 

death of the Lord,” at his holy table; yea, to meet 
their own death, when Ged has been pleased to ap- 
point it. 

9. It is very certain, that the devotions and 
conferences carried on in such a society, will not only 
have a wonderful] tendency to produce the “comfort 
ef love” in the hearts. of good men towards one 
another ; bat that their ability to serve many valua- 
ble interests will also thereby be much increased. 

10, Unexpected opportunities to do good will 
arise to such a society ; and especially if such a plan 
as the following were adopted: That the men, who 
sompose the society, would now and then spend half 
an hour by themselves, in considering that question, 
What good is there to be done ? More particularly, 

Who are to .be called upon to do their duty, in 
coming to special ordinances? 

Who are in any peculiar adversity ; and what may 
be done to comfort them? 

What contention or variance may there be among: 
any of our neighbours; and what may be@one for 
healing it? 

W hat open transgressions do any live in; and who 
shall be desired to carry faithful admonitions to them? 

: Finally: What is there to be done for the advan- 
tage and advancement of our holy religion ? 

In the primitive times of Christianity, much use 
was made of a saying, which was ascribed to Matthias 
the apostle : “ If the neighbour of an elect, or godly 
man sin, the godly man himself has also sinned.” 
The intention of that saying was, to point out the 
_ ebligation of neighbours watchfully to admonish ope 
another. O how much may Christians, associated in 

religious societies, effect by watchful and faithful ad- 
_monitions, to prevent their being & partakers i in other 
| men’ s sins!’ The man, who shall produce and pro- 
mote such societies, will do an incaleulable service to 
| the neighbourhood. 


G 2 i, ae 


ae ge 


70 ESSAYS TO DO Goon. 


faeeeeree tees 


I proceed to mention another sort of society ; 
namely, that of YouNG MEN ASSOCIATED. =~ 

Societies of this description, duly ‘managed,. and 
countenanced by the pastor, have been incomparable 
nurseries to the churches. Young men are hereby 
preserved from very many tenyptations, rescued from 
the “paths of the destroyer,” confirmed in the “right 
ways of the Lord,” and much prepared for such re- 
ligious exercises as will be expected from them, whem 


‘they shall themselves become householders. 


I will here lay before the reader, some ORDERS 

which have been observed in some societies of this 
pat e. 

. Let there be two hours at a time ek apart for 
fie: purpose ; in which, let twe prayers be offered by 
the members in rotation ; and between the prayers let 
there be singing, and the repetition of a sermon. 

2. Let all the members of the society resolve to be 
charitably watchful over one another; never to divulge 
each other’s infirmities ; always to give information 
of every thing which may appear to call fer admoni- 
tion, and to take it kindly whenever it is given. 

3. Let all, who are to be admitted as members of 
ake society, be accompanied, by two or three of the 
rest, to the minister of. the place, that they may re- 
ceive his holy counsel and directions, and that every 
thing may be done with his approbation ; after which, 
let their names beadded to the roll. 

4. If any person thus enrolled among them, fall in- 
to a scandalous iniquity, let the rebukes of the society 
be dispensed to him ; and let them forbid him to come 
among them any more, until he give suitable evidence 
of repentance. | 
- 5. Let the list be once a quarter called over; and 
then, if it appear that any of the society have much $ 
absented themselves, let some of the members be 
sent to inquire the reason of their absence ; and if no- 
reason be given, but such as intimates an apostasy , 
from good beginnings, and if they remain obstinate, 
let them be dismissed, with kind ‘ond fait 
admonitions. os, 


“a 


’ ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. Tt 


-. 6. Once in three months, let there be a collection, 
if necessary, out of which the unavoidable expenses of 
the society shall be defrayed, and the rest be employed 
for such pious purposes, as may be agreed on. 

7. Once in two months, let the whole time be de- 
voted to supplications for the conversion and salvation 
of the rising generation ; and particularly for the suc- 
cess of the gospel, in that congregation to which the 
society belongs. 

8. Let the whole society be exceedingly careful that 
their-conyersation, while they are together, after the 
other services of religion are over, have nothing in it, 
that may have any taint of backbiting or vanity, or the 
least relation to the affairs of government, or to things 
which do not concern them, and are not likely to pra- 
mote their advantage. But let their conversation he 
wholly on matters, of religion, and those also, not dis- 
putable and controversial subjects, but points of prac- 
tical piety. For this purpose, questions may be pro- 
posed, on which every one, in order, may deliver his 

sentiments ; or, they may go through a catechism ; 
and every one, in rotation, may hear all the rest recite 
the answers ; or they may be directed by their pas- 
tor, to spend their time profitably in some other 
manner. 

9. Let every person in the society consider it asa 
special task incumbent on him, to look out for some 
other hopeful young man, and to use all proper means 
to engage him in the resolutions of godliness, until 
he also shall be united to the society. And whena 
society shall in this manner be increased toa ft num- 
ber, let it use its influence to form other similar soci- 
eties, who may hold a useful correspondence with 
each other. 

The man who shall be the instrument of establish- 
_.ing such a society in a place, cannot comprehend 
_ what a long and rich train of good consequences may 
__-Fesult from his labours. _ And they who shall in such 
Ria society carry on the duties of religion, and sing the 
_ _ praises of a glorious Christ, will have in themselves 


ni 
‘eal 


a blessed earnest that they shall be associated togeth- 


seer eeeeone 


72 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. r 


erin the heavenly city, and in the blesinlanin that 
shall never have an end. w 


PROPOSALS TO THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL. 


HitHerto my discourse has been a more general 
address to persons of all conditions and capacities. I 
have proposed a few devices, but those which are 
equally applicable to private persons, as to others. 
We will now proceed to address those who are in @. 
more public situation. And because no men in the 
world are under such obligations to do good as the 
MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, “it is necessary that 
the word ofGod should be first spoken unto them.” 
I trust, therefore, my fathers and brethren in the 
ministry will “suffer the word of exhortation.” 

It must be admitted, that they whe are “men of 
God” should be always at work for God. . Certainly, 
they who are dedicated to the special service of the 
Lord, should never be satisfied, but when they are in 
the most sensible manner serving him. Certainly, 
they whom the great King has brought nearer to 
himself than other men, should be more unwearied 5 
than others, in endeavouring to advance his kingdom. 
They, whom the word of God calls angels, ought cer- 
tainly to beof an angelical disposition ; always dispos- 
ed to do good, like the good angels j—ministers ever 
on the wing to “do his pleasure.” It is noimproper 
proposal, that they would seriously set themselves to: 
think, “ What are the points wherein I should be wise 
and do good, like an angel of God? Or, if an angel 
were in the flesh, as I am, and in such a post as 
mine, what methods may I justly imagine that he — 
would use to glorify God?” What wonderful offices — 
of kindness would the good angels cheerfully perform j 
for such their “ fellow servants !”” 

We must call upon our people, “ to oa ready to ev- t 
ery good work.” We must go before them i in it, and © 
by our own readiness at every good rt 5 

‘the manner of performing it. “ Timoth 


* ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 73 


_ apostle, “ Be thou'an example of the believers.” It 
is a true maxim, and you cannot think of it teo fre- 
quently ; “ The life of a minister is the life of his 
ministry.” There is also another maxim of the same 
kind | ; “ The sins of teachers are the teachers of 
sins.” 

Allow me, Sirs, to say, that your opportunities to 
do good are singular. Your want of worldly riches, 
and generally of any means of obtaining them, is 
compensated by those opportunities to do good, with 
which you are enriched. The true spirit of a minis- 
ter will cause you to consider yourselves enriched, 
when those precious things are conferred upon you, 
‘and to prize them above lands, or money, or any tem- 
poral possessions whatever. ‘Let me# abound in 
good works, and I care not who abounds in riches.”* 
Well said, brave Melancthon ! 

It is to be hoped, that the main principle which 2 ace 

_ tuated you, when you first entered upon the evangel- 
ical ministry, was a desire to do good i in the world. 
If that principle was then too feeble in its operation, 
it is time that it should now act more vigorously; and 
that a zeal for doing good should now “ eat up” your- 

time, your thoughts, your all. 

That you may be good men, and be mightily in- 
spired and assisted from Heaven todo good, it is need- 
ful that you should be men of prayer. This, my first 
request, I suppose to be fully admitted. In: pursu- 
ance of this intention, it appears very necessary that 
you should occasionally set apart whole days for se- 
cret prayer and fasting, and thus perfume your stu-. 
dies with extraordinary devotions: such exercises 
may be also properly accompanied with the giving of © 
alms,to go up as a memorial before the Lord. By these 
Means, you may obtain, together with the pardon of 
your unfruitfulness, (for which, alas! we have such 

frequent: occasion to apply to the great Sacrifice) a 

peat ete? oy ote sel in oer and sanctity; 3 the 


: —- 
= "tn operibus sit. abundantia mea ; divitiis per TagaTAM te 
: ay quisquis ¥oluerit, i he 


oreee weeeeee & % 


4 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. t 


vast importance of which, to form a useful ministers 
none can describe ! “ Sanctify them in (or for) thy 
truth,” said our Saviour. They should be sanctified, 
who would become instruments for the propagation 
of the truth. You may obtain, by prayer, such an 
influence from heaven upon your minds, and such an 
indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as will render you 
grave, discreet, humble, generous, and worthy to be 
‘* greatly beloved.”? You may obtain those influences 
from. above that will dispel the enchantments, and 
conquer the temptations which might otherwise do 
much mischief in yeur neighbourhood. You may 
obtain direction and assistance for the many services 
requisite to be performed, in the discharge of your 
ministry. » Finally, you may fetch down unknown. 
blessings on your flocks, and. en the people at large, 
for whom you are to be the Lord’s remembrancers., . 
Your public prayers, if suitably composed, will be 
excellent engines to “ de good.” Phe more judicious, 
the more affectionate, the more argumentative you are 
in them, the more you will teach your people to 
pray. And I would ask, how can you prosecute any 
intention of picty ameng your people more efectual- 
ly, than by letting them see you praying, weeping, 
striving, and in an importunate agony before the 
Lord, in order to obtain the blessing for them? The 
more appropriately you represent the various cases 
of your people in your public prayers, the more de- 
voutly sensible you will make them of their owa 
.€ases; and by this means they will obtain much con- 
solation. ‘The prayers. you offer at BAPTISMS may 
be so managed as greatly to awaken im the minds of 
all present,.a sense of their baptismal obligations. 
What effusions of the Holy Spirit may your people 
experience, if your prayers.at the table of the Lord,. 
should be such as Nazianzen. describes. his, father’s to. 
have been ;—~ Made by the Holy Spirit of God,® 
Your sermons, if they be well studied, as they ought , 
to be, from the consideration of their being offerings 
to God, as well as to his. people, will * do good” be-~. 
yond all expressien. The manner of your studying 


\ 


BSexe “TO DO GOOD. 75 


eee he rtenene 


em. may very much contribute to their usefulness. 
is mecessary that you carefully consider the state 
of your flocks ; and bring them such truths, as_ will 
best suit their present circumstances. In order to 
this, you will observe their condition, their faults, 
their snares, and their griefs ; that you may “ speak 
a word in season ;” and that, if any remarkable proy- 
idence occur among your people, you may make a 
suitable improvement of it. It will be useful to con- 
sider the different ages and circumstances of your 
people, and what lessons of piety may be inculcated 
on each ; what exhortations should be given to the 
communicants, to those who are under the bonds of 
the covenant ; what advice should be addressed to the 
aged ; what admonitions to the poor, to the rich, to 
the worldly, and to those who are in public situa- 
tions ; what consolations should be afforded to the af- 
flicted ; and what instruction may be necessary, 
with respect to the personal callings of your hearers. 
Above all, the voune must not be forgotten: you 
will employ all possible means to cultivate early piety. 
Yea, you may do well to make it understood, that 
you would willingly be informed, by any persons or 
societies in your flocks, what subjects they may wish 
to hear explained. By giving them sermons on such 
subjects, you will at least very much edify those who 
requested them ; and it is probable, many other per- 
sons besides. 

In studying your sermons, it might be promitable at 
the close of every paragraph, to pause, and endeav- 
our, with ejaculations to Heaven and self-examination, 

‘to feel some impression of the truths contained in 
that paragraph on your own mind, before you pro- 
ceed any farther. By such a practice, the hours 
which you spend in composing a sermon, will: prove 

to you so many hours of devotion ; the day in which 
you have made a sermon, will even leave upon your 

‘Mind such a savour as a day of prayer commonly 

Joes, When you come to preach the sermon, you 

ill do it with great liberty and assurance; and the 

hs thus prepared will be likely to come with more 


ae 


76 ESSAYS TO BO GOOD. 


sénsible warmth and life upon the auditory ;—fi 

the heart, and to’the heart-! A famous preacher usec 
to say, “I never dare'to preach a sermon to others,» 
till I have first got some good by it myself” And I 
will add, that such a method is most likely to render 
it useful to others. Let the saying of the ancients be 
remembered: “ He that trifles in the pulpit shall 
weep in hell;”* and the modern saying, “ Cold 
preachers make bold:sinners.” 

-How-much good may:be done, Sirs,by your visits! 
It would be well for you to impose it asa law upon 
yourselves; ‘‘ Never to make an unprofitable visit.” 
Even when you pay a visit merely for the sake of 
civility or entertainment, it would be easy for’you te 
observe this law; “ That you will drop some sentence 
or other, which may be good for the use of edifying, 
before you leave the company.” There have been 
pastors who have been able’ to say, that they scarce 
ever went into a house among their people, without 
some essay or purpose to do good in the house before 
they left it. 

The same rule might properly be observed with 
such as come to us, as well as with those whom we 
visit. Why should any of our people ever come 
near us, without our contriving to speak: something to | 
them that may be for their advantage’? Peter Martyr 
having spent many days in Bucer’s house, published: 
this report of his visit; ‘I can truly affirm, that 1” 
never left his table, without some addition to my _ 
knowledge!”} I make no doubt that the observation of 
this rule: may be very consistent with an affable, and,- 
as far as is suitable, a facetious conversation. But let 
it be remembered, that, “ What are but jests in the 
mouth of the people, are bagiee in the mouth 
of the priest.”’{ 


* Qui ludit-in cathedra, lugebit in gehenna. — A 

+ Ausim affrmare, me ab illius sae oS . discessisse 
doctiorem. is 

+ Que sunt in ore populi nuge, sunt in ore sacerdotis 
blasphemiz. <4 , 


' 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 77 


ee eeeonneesee 


But, Sirs, in your visits you will take a particular 
hotice of the widow, the orphan, and the afflicted, and 
afford them all possible relief. The bills put up in 
your congregation will, in some measure, assist you 
to find out who need your visits. 

When any peculiar calamity hath befallen any one, 
it is a suitable time to visit such a person, to direct 
and persuade him to hear the voice of God in the 
calamity, and to comply with the intent and errand 
upon which it comes. Another very proper time for 
a visit is, when any special deliverance has been re- 
ceived. Those who have been thus favoured should 
be admonished to contrive some remarkable manner 
in which they may express their thankfulness for the 
deliverance: nor should you leave them, until such a 
determination be made. The handmaids of the Lord, 
who are near the hour of difficulty and danger, may 
on this account be very proper objects for your visits. 
At such atime they are in much distress; the ap- 
proaching hour of trouble threatens to be their dying 
hour. The counsels that shall exactly instruct them 
how to prepare fora dying hour will now, if ever, be 
attentively heard: and there are precious promises of 
God, upon which they should also now be taught to 
live. To bring them these promises will be the 
work of a * good angel,” and will cause you to be wel- 
comed by them as such. 

Carecuisine is a noble exercise; it will insensibly 
bring you into a way to “do good,” that surpasses all 
expression. Your sermons will be very much lost 
upon an uncatechised people. Nor will your people 


_ mind so much what you address to them from the 


pulpit, as what you speak to them in the more con- 


_ descending and familiar*way of applying the answers 
of the catechism. Never did any minister repent of 


his labour in catechising ; thousands have blessed 


_ God for the wonderful success which has attended it. 


The most honourable man of God should consider it 
90 abasement or abatement of his honour, to stoop to 
bis way of teaching. Yea, some eminent pastors in 
ir old age, when other labours have been too hard 


78 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


Seveaesesere 


* 
for them, have, like the famous old Gerson, wholly 
given themselves up to catechising; though there 
have been others, of whom that renowned chancellor 
of Paris, in his treatise, “ Of bringing children to 
Christ,’”’* makes a sad complaint ; “ In the opinion of 
many, it would be degrading for our divines, or 
literary characters, or dignitaries in the church, to ap- 
ply themselves to this kind of work.” 

Those pastors who so love a glorious Christ as to 
regard his word, “ Feed my lambs,” will vary their 
methods of carrying on this exercise, according to 
particular circumstances. Some have chosen the way 
of pastoral visits; and from the memorials of one 
who long since did so, and afterwards left his advice 
to his son upon this subject. I will transcribe the 
following passages : : 


DIRECTIONS FOR PASTORAL VISITS, 


You may resolve to visit all the families belonging 
to your congregation ; taking one afternoon in a week 
for that purpose: and it may be proper to give pre- — 
vious notice to each family, that you intend at such a 
time to visit them. On visiting a family, you may 
endeavour, with addresses as forcible and respectful as 
possible, to treat with every person particularly aboug 
their everlasting interests. 

First, you may discourse with the elder people 
upon such points as you think most proper with them. 
Especially charge them to maintain family-prayer ; 
and obtain their promise of establishing it, if it has 
been hitherto neglected ; yea, pray with them, that 
you may shew them how to pray, as well as obtain 
their purposes for it. You may likewise press upon 
them the care of instructing their children and ser- 
vants in the holy religion of our Saviour, to sys | 
them up for him. 4 


Se 


* De pueris ad Christum trahendis. dehy 

+ Adeo jam indignum videtur apud multos, si quis. 
theologis, aut famatus in literis, vel ecclesiastica di 
preditus, ad hoc opus s¢ inglinayerit. dh se oats 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 79 


ack 


' Hf any with whom you should have spoken are ab- 
sent, you may frequently leave one or two solemn 
texts of the sacred scriptnre, which you may think 
most suitable for them; desiring some one present 
affectionately to remember you to them, and from you 
to recommend to them that oracle of God. 

You may then call for the children and servants ; 
and putting to them such questions of the catechism 
as you think fit, you may, from the answers, make 
lively applications to them, for engaging them to the 
fear of God. You may frequently obtain from them 
promises relating to secret prayer, reading of the 
scriptures, and obedience to their parents and masters. 
You may also frequently set before them the proposals 
of the new covenant, after you have laboured for their 
conviction and awakening ; till with floods of tears, 
they expressly declare their consent to it, and their 
acceptance of it. 

Some of the younger people you may order to 
bring their Bibles, and read to you from thence two 
or three verses, to which you may direct them: this 
will try, whether or not they can read well. You 
May then encourage them to think on such things as 
you remark from the passage,. and: nevér.to forget 
those “ faithful sayings” of God. You maysome- 
times leave with them some serious question, which 
you may tell them they shall not answer to you, but 
to themselves ; such as the following: “ What have 
I been doing ever since I came into the world, about 
the great errand upon which God sent me into the 
world?” “If God should now call me out of the 
world, what would become of me throughout eternal 
ages!” “ Have I ever yet by faith carried a perishing 
soul to my only Saviour, both for righteousness and 
~ salvation?” : x 

You will enjoy a most wonderful presence of. God 
with you, in this undertaking ; and will seldom leave 
_ a family without having observed many tears of-deve- 
- tion shed by all sorts of persons in it. As you can 
dom visit more than four or five families in an after- 
, the work may be as laborious as any part of 


5. 


86 ESSAYS TO DBO GOOD. 


Oe eeeereeeees 


My son, I advise you to set a special value on that 
part of your ministry, which is to be discharged in 
pastoral visits. You will not only do good, but also 
get good, by your conversation with all sorts of 
persons, in thus visiting them “from house to house.” 
And you will never more “ walk in the Spirit,” than 

when you thus walk among your flock, to do what 
good you can amongst them. 

In your visits an incredible deal of good may be 
done, by distributing little books of piety. You may, 
without much expense, be furnished with such books 
to suit all persons and circumstances: books for the 
old and for the young—for persoris under afflictions 
or desertions—for persons who are under the power 
of particular vices—for those who neglect domestic 
religion—for sea-faring persons-—for the erroncous— 
for those whom you would quicken and prepare to ap- 
proach the table of the Lord—for those who are about 
to have their children baptised ; and catechisms for 
the ignorant. You may remarkably enforce your 
admonitions, by leaving suitable books in the hands of 
those with whom you have conversed ; you may give 
them to understand, that you would be still considered 
as conversing with them by these books, after you 
have left them. .And in this way you may speak 
more than you have time to do in any personal inter- 
view ; yea, sometimes, more than you would wish to 
do. By good books a salt of piety is scattered about 
a néighbourhood.* 

Pastors; uphold and cherish good scHOOLs in your 
towns : And be prevailed wpon occasionally to visit 
the schools. That holy man, Mr. Thomas White, 
expressed a desire, “ That able and zealous ministers 
would sometimes preach at the schools; because 
preaching is the converting ordinance ; and the chil-. 
dren will be obliged to hear with more attention in 
the school:than in the public congregation ; ; and the 


” 


* A few years ago a society was established in London, 
entitled, “The Religious Tract Society,” by whom a srens) 
number and variety of tracts have been published, and at 
very cheap rate, These productions are very happily sant 
ed to the pious purpose proposed by our author. 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 81 


eneeorortcos 


ministers might here condescend to such expressions 
as might work most upon them, and yet not be so fit 
for a public congregation.” I have read the following 
account of one, who was awakened by this advice to. 
act accordingly : “‘ At certain times he successively 
yisited the schools. When he went to a school, he 
first offered a prayer for the children, as much adapt- 
ed to their condition, as he could make it. Then he 
went through the catechism, or as much of it as he 
thought necessary ; making the several children re- 
peat the several answers: but he divided the ques- 
tions, that every article in the answers might be un- 
derstood by them; expecting them to answer, Yes, 
or No, to each of these divisions. He also put to 
them such questions, as would make them see and 
own their duties, and often express a resolution to. 
perform them. Then he preached a short sermon to: 
them, exceedingly plain, on some suitable scripture, 
with all possible ingenuity and earnestness, in order 
to excite their attentive regard. After this, he sin- 
gled out a number of scholars, perhaps eight or ten, 
and bid each of them_turn to a certain scripture, which 
he made them read to the whole school ; giving them. 
to see, by his brief remarks upon it, that it contained 
something which it particularly concerned children to: 
take notice of. Then he concluded with a short 
prayer, for a blessing on the school and on the tutors.” 
While we are upon the subject of visiting, I would 
observe that you will not fail to visit the foer as well 
as the rich; and often mention the condition of the 
poor, in your conversation with the rich. Keep, Sir, 
alist of them. Recollect that although the wind does 
not feed any one, yet that it turns the mill which 
grinds the corn, the food of the poor. When con- 
versing with the rich, you may do. this for the poor. 
who are on your list. ) 
In visiting the poor, you will take occasion to dis- 
pense your alms among them, These alms, you 
will, with as much contrivance as possible, use as. ve- 
_-hicles for conveying to them the admonitions of pie- 
% ty 5 ; yea, means and instruments of obtaining from 
1s oe 


32 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD, 


them some engagements to perform certain exercises 
of piety. All ministers are not alike furnished for 
alms, but all should be disposed for them, They 
that have small families, or large interests, ought to 
be shining examples of liberality to the poor, and 
pour down their alms upon them, like the showers 
of heaven. All should endeavour to do what they 
can in this way. What says Nazianzen of his rever- 
end father’s alms-deeds ? They will find that the 
more they da (previded itbe done with discretion) the 
more they are able to do: the loaves will multiply in 
the distribution. Sirs, this bounty of yours to the 
poor will procure a wonderful esteem and success to 
your ministry. ‘ Suadet lingua, jubet vita.” It will 
be an irrefragable demonstration that you believe 
what you speak concerning all the duties of christian~ 
ity, but particularly those of liberality, a faithful dis- 
charge of our stewardship, anda mind weaned from 
the love of this world ; it will demonstrate your bélief 
of a future state ; it will vindicate you from the impu- 
tation of a worldly man ; it will embolden and fortify 
you, when you call upon others to do good, and to 
abound in those sacrifices with which God is well- 
pleased. Et sic exempla parantur ! 

You will do well to keep a watchful eye onthe 
disorders which may arise and increase in your neigh- 
bourhood. Among other ways of suppressing these 
things, you may form societies for this purpose : 
obtain a fit number of prudent, pious, well-disposed 
men, to associate with this intention, and employ their 
discretion and activity, for your assistance in these 
holy purposes, 

One of the rules given for the minister is, “ Give 
thyself to reading.” Sirs, Jet Gregory’s Pastoral, 
and Bowles’ Pastor Evangelicus, form part of your 
reading. Also if you read Chureh History much, 
particularly the Prudentia Veteris Ecclesia, written 
by Vedelius, together with the lives of both ancient © 
and modern divines, you will frequently find “ meth-— 
ods to do good” exemplified. You will then consider 7 
how far you may “ go and do likewise” = 


5 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. $3 

How serviceable may ministers be to one another, 
and to all the churches, in their several associations. 
Indeed, it is a pity that there should ever be the least 
occasional “ meeting of ministers,” without some 
useful thing proposed in it. 

Nero took it very ill, that Vespasian slept at his 
music : It is very much to be wished that the sin of 
sleeping at sermons were more guarded against and 
reproved in your sleepy hearers ; if indeed it is prop- 
er to call those Aearers who miserably lose the good 
of your ministry, and perhaps the good which you 
might have particularly designed forthem. Willno 
vinegar help against the narcotics that Satan has giv- 
en to your poor Eutychuses? or cannot you bring 
that civility into fashion among your hearers, to wake 
one another ? 

Finally, After all the generous essays and labours 
to do good that may fill your lives, your people will 
probably treat you with ingratitude. Your salaries 
will be meaner than those at Geneva. They will 
neglect you ; they will oppress you ; they will with- 
hold from you what they have engaged, and you have 
expected. You have now one more opportunity to 
do good, and soto glorify your Saviour. Your pa- 
tience, O ye tried servants of God, your patience will 
do it wonderfully ! To “bear evil” is to “do good.” 
The more patient you are under ill usage, the more 
you exhibit a glorious Christ to your people, in your 
conformity to your adorable Saviour. The more con- 
formed you are to him, the more prepared you are, 
perhaps, for some amendment of your condition in 
this world, most certainly for the rewards of the hea- 
venly world, when you shall appear before the Lord, 
who says, ** I know thy works and chisity a and ser- 
vice, and faith, and thy patience.” 

It was said of Ignatius, “that he carried Christ 
about with him in his heart :” and this I will say, if 
to represent a glorious Christ tothe view ; the love 
and the admiration of all people be the grand inten- 
tion of your life; if you are desirous to be a star tolead 
‘mento Christ ; if youare exquisitely studious, that 


84 ESSAYS TO BDO GOOD. 


the holiness and yet the gentleness of a glorious 
Christ may shine in your conversation ; if in your 
public discourses you do with rapture bring in the 
mention of a glorious Christ in’ every paragraph, and 
on every occasion where he is to be spoken of ; and if 
in your private conversation you contrive to insinuate 
something of his glories and praises, wherever it may 
be-decently introduced ; finally, if when you find that 
a glorious Christ is the more considered and acknowl- 
edged by your means, it fills you with “ joy unspeak- 
able and full of glory,” and you exelaim, “ Lord, this 
is my desired happiness !” ‘Truly, you then live ta 
good purpose, you “ do good” emphatically ! 

There was a worthy minister, whom the great Cran- 
mer designed for preferment, and he gave this reasonof 
his design—“‘ He seeks nothing, he longs fornothing, he 
dreams about nothing, butJesus Christ.”* Verily, such 
“men of Christ” are “ men of God ;” they arethe favour- 
ites of Hleaven,and shall be favoured with opportunities 
to do geod above any men in the world : they are the 
men whom the King of heaven will delight to honour, 
and they are the Gaons of christianity. Fi 

If Lreserve one thing to be mentioned after finally, 
it is because I doubt whether it ought to be mentioned 
atall. In some Reformed Churches they. do not per- 
mit a minister of the gospel to practise as a physi- 
eian, because either of these callings is generally suf- 
ficient to employ him who faithfully follows it: but, 
the priests of old, who preserved in the archives of 
their temples the records ofthe cures which had been 
thankfully acknowledged there, communicated from 
thence directions for cures in similar cases among ~ 
their neighbours. Nor.has it been uncommon in lat- © 
er ages for clergymen to be physicians. Not only | 
onstantius 


peared in n that character. Thus Mr. ert 2 yi 
that his “country minister,” (or st his wife) — 


should be a kind of physician to the flock ; vist wey 


* Nihil appetit, nihil ardet, nihil, soit nisi  Jesum C ie st - 
tum, 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 85 


have known many a country minister prove a great 
blessing to his flock by being such. Ha minister ate 
tempt this, let him always make it a means of doing 
spiritual good to his people. It is an angelical con- 
junction, when the ministers of Christ, who do his 
pleasure, become also physicians and Raphaels to 
their people. Ina more populous town, however, 
you will probably choose rather to procure-some re- 
ligious and accomplished physician to settle in your 
neighbourhood, and make medical studies only your 
Tecreation ; yet with a design to communicate to 
your Luke whatever you meet with worth his notice, 
and at times unite your counsels with him for the 
good of his patients. Thus you may save the lives of 
many persons, who themselves may know nothing of 
your care for them. 


e & 


THE DUTIES QF SCHOOLMASTERS, 


From the tribe of Levi, let us proceed with our 
proposals to the tribe of Simeon; from which there 
has been a frequent ascent to the former. The 
ScHOOLMASTER has many opportunities of doing 
good. God make him sensible of his obligations ! 
We read, that “the little ones have their angels.” 
It is hard work to keep a school; but it is God’s 
work, and it may be so managed as to be like the 
work of angels: the tutors of the children may be 
like their “ tutelar angels.” Melchior Adams proper- 
ly styled it “ An office most laborious, yet to God most 
“psa 

Tutors! will you not regard the children under 
your wi committed to you by the glorious Lord 

with snehiihtharse as this ? “ Take them, and bring 
hem up for me, andI will pay you your wages !” 
RW henever a new scholar comes under your care, you 
"Tay say, “ Here, my Lord sends me another object, 
whom I may do something that he may be useful © 
world. ” Suffer little children to come unto 


——— 


lestissimam, sed Deo longe gratissimam functionem. 


S EX 


— 


>: 


86 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


you, and consider what you mies do, instrumentally, 
that of such may be the kingdom of heaven. 

Sirs, let it be your grand design, to instil into their 
minds the documents of piety. Consider it as their 
chief interest, and yours also, that they may so know 
the holy scriptures as to become wise to salvation. 
Embrace every opportunity of dropping some honey 
from the rock upon them. Happy the children, and 
as happy the master, where they who relate the history 
of their conversion may say, *‘ Phere was a school- 
master who brought us to Christ.” You have been 
told, “ Certainly, it is a nobler work to make the little 
ones know their Saviour, than know their letters. 
The lessons of Jesus are nobler things than the lessons — 
of Cato. The’ sanctifying transformation of their 
souls would be infinitely preferable to any thing in. 


Ovid’s Metamorphoses 
ees EcHIsING Should be a frequent, at least a weekly 
exe 


ise in the school; and it should be conducted in 
the most edifying, applicatory, and admonitory man- 


Mer. In some places the magistrate permits no per-— 
son to keep a school, unless he produces a testimonial © 
of his ability and disposition to perform the work of 


religious catechising. * 

Dr. Reynolds, in a funeral sermon for an eminent 
schoolmaster, has the following passage, worthy to be 
written in_letters of gold: “ Hf grammar schools have - 
holy and learned men set over them, not only the. 
brains, but also the souls of the children might there 
be enriched, and the work both of learning and se 
grace be early commenced in them.” In order to | 
let it be proposed, that you not only pray with wie 
‘scholars daily, but also take occasion, from the public 4 
sermons, and from remarkable occurrences in your 
neighbourhood, frequently to incules e 
piety on the children. 

Tutors in the colleges may do 
with each of their pupils alone, 


' solemnity and affection, concernilg’ thei 


* Aptitudinis ad munus illud i imprimis puerovum 
sationem, ; 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 87 


state, concerning repentance for sin, and faith in Je- 
sus Christ; and to bring them to express resolutions 
of serious piety. You may do a thousand things 
to render your pupils orthodox in sentiment, regular 
in practice, and qualified for public service. 

IT have read of a tutor, who made it his constant 
practice in every recitation, to take occasion, from 
something or other that occurred, to drop at least one 
sentence that had a tendency to promote the fear of 
God in their hearts. This method sometimes cost 
him a good deal of study, but the good effect sufficient- 
ly recompensed him for it. 

I should be glad to see certain authors received 
into the grammar schools as classical, which are not 
generally admitted there, such as Castalio in the Latin 
tongue, and Posselius in the Greek ; and I could 
wish, with some modern writers, that “ a north-west 
passage” for the attainment of Latin might be dis- 
covered ; that instead of a journey which might be 
dispatched in a few days, they might not be obliged 
to wander, like the children of Israel, many years in 
the wilderness. I might recite the complaint of 
Austin, “ that little boys are taught in the schools the 
filthy actions of the Pagan gods, for reciting which,” 
said he, “I was called a boy of promise ;’* or the 
complaint of Luther, “that our schools are Pagan 
rather than Christian.” I might mention what a late 
author says, “I knew an aged and eminent school 
master, who, after keeping a school about fifty years, 
Said with a sad countenance, that it was a great trouble 
to him that he had spent so much time in reading 
Pagan authors to his scholars; and wished it were 
customary to read such a book as Duport’s verses on 
Job, rather than Homer, &c.; I pray God, to’ put it 
into the of a wise parliament to purge-our 
instead of learning vain fictions, and 
they may become acquainted with the 
4 with bpoks containing grave sayings, 


1 in the world.” But I presume little notice will © 


* Ab hoc bone spei puer appellabar, 


83 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


be taken of such wishes as these. It is with despair 
that I mention them. 

Among the occasions for promoting religion in the 
scholars, one in the writing schools deserves peculiar 
notice. I have read of an atrocious sinner who was, 
converted to God, by accidentally reading the follow- 
ing sentence of Austin written in a window : “He, 
who has promised pardon to the penitent sinner, has 
hot promised repentance to the presumptuous one.” 
Who can tell what good may be done to the young 
scholar by a sentence in his copy-book ? Let their 
copies be composed of sentences worthy to be had in 
everlasting remembrance—of sentences which shall 
contain the brightest maxims of wisdom, worthy to be 
written on the fleshly tables of their hearts, to be gra- 
ven with the point of a diamond there. God has 
blessed such sentences to many scholars ; they have 
been useful to them all their days. 

In the grammar school, also, the scholars may be 
directed, for their exercises, to turn into Latin such 
passages as may be useful for their instruction in the 
principles of christianity, and furnish them with sup- — 
plies from “the tower of David.” Their letters also 
may be on subjects which may be friendly to the in- 
terests of virtue. 

I will add, it is very desirable to manage the dis 
cifiline of the school by means of rewards, rather 
than of punishments. Many methods of rewarding 
the diligent and deserving may be invented ; and a 
boy ofan ingenious temper, by the expectation of re- _ 
ward, (ad palmz cursurus honores) will do his © 
best. You esteem Quintillian. Hear him: “ Use © 
stripes sparingly ; rather, let the youth be stim- 
ulated by praise, and by the distinctions confer- 
red on his classmates.”* If a fault must be punished, 
Jet instruction, both to the delinqaeaiy nd..to the © 
spectator, accompany the correction. Let the odi- — 
ous name of the sin which enforced the correction be © 


Pe 


* Cavendum a plagis, sed potius laude, aut aliorum p 
latione, urgendus est puer. lain. 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 89 


Peneneessece . 


declared ; and let nothing be done in anger, but with 
every mark of tenderness and concern. 

Ajax Flagellifer may be read in the school ; he is 
Not fit to be the master of it. Let it not be said of the 
boys, they were brought up in “ the school of Tyran- 
nus.” Pliny says, that bears are the better for beat- 
ing : More fit to have the management of bears than 
of ingenuous boys, are those masters who cannot give 
a bit of learning without giving a blow with it. Send 
them to the tutors of the famous Lithuanian school at 
Samourgan. The harsh Orbilian way of treating 
children, too commonly used in the schools, is a 
dreadful curse of God on our miserable offspring, who 
are born “children of wrath.’ It is boasted sometimes : 
‘of a schoolmaster, that such a brave man had his edu- 
cation under him; but itis never said, how many, 
who might have been brave men, have been ruined 
by him ; how many brave wits have been dispirited, 
confounded, murdered by his barbarous way of man- 
aging them. 


PROPOSALS TO CHURCHES FOR DOING GOOD. 


We have already proposed to the Pastors of 
Churches various ways of doing good 3; we shall now 
lay before the CaurcueEs themselves some proposals 
of objects, in which they may do well to join their 
pastors. 

Days oF PRAYER, occasionally observed, for the 
express purpose of obtaining the sanctifying influ- 
ences of the Spirit of God on the rising generation, 
have had a marvellous efficacy in producing a religious 
posterity inthe land, and “ a seed accounted to the 
Lord for a generation.” Such an acknowledgment 
of the necessity and excellency of supernatural grace 
_ would be a very probable preparative and introduction 
_ to the communication’of it. And when the children 
see their parents thus earnestly seeking the grace of 
God for them, it would have a natural teadency to 
awaken them to an earnest seeking of it for them- 
selyes. The sermons also preached by the minis- 


90 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD: 


Odeawesee vee 


ters on such solemn occasions, would, probably, be 
very awakening ones. That this Proposal has been 
so little attended to, is lamentable and remarkable : 
but, “ They allslumbered and slept.” — 

There is another Proposal which has been ten- 
dered to all our churches, and ig by some of 
them : 

That the several churches, having i in an instrument: 
proper for the purpose, made a catalogue of such: 
things as have indisputably been found amiss among - 
them, do with all seriousness and solemnity pass their 
votes, That they account such things to be very offen- 
sive evils, and that renouncing all dependence on their 
own strength; to avoid such evils, they humbly im- 
plore the help of divine grace, to assist them in * 
watching against the said evils both in themselves and. 
in one another: And that the communicants resolve, 
frequently to reflect upon these their acknowlede+ ~ 
ments and. protestations, as perpetual monitors to 
them, to prevent the miscarriages by which too ma- 
ny professors are so easily overtaken. 

It has been considered, that such humble recogni- 
tions of duty will notoniy be accepted by our God, 
as declarations for him, upon which he will declare for 
us ; but also, that they are the way of the new cove- 
nant, for obtaining assistance to perform our duty. 

A particular church may be an illustrious pillar of 
the truth, by considering what important truths may 
call for special, signal, open testimonies ; and they 
may excite their pastors to the composing of such. 
testimonies, and likewise assist them in the publica- 
' tion of them.  Itis probable that God would accom- 
pany such testimonies with a marvellous efficacy to 
suppress growing errors and evils. A proposal of 
this nature may be worthy of some consideration. 

1. It were desirable that every particular church- 4 
should be furnished with a stock, that may bea con- 
stant and ready fund for the propagation of religion ; | 


ours, both by his own contribution, according to his. 4 
ability, and by applying to well-disposed persons un~ 
der his influence, to increase the stock, either in the 


ESSAYS. TO DO GOOD. ot 
way of public collections made at certain periods, or in 
that of more private and occasional communications, 

2, This evangelical treasury may be lodged in the 
hands of the deacons of the respective churches in 
which it is collected ; who are to keep exact accounts 
of the receipts and disbursements ; and let nothing 
be drawn from it, without the knowledge and consent 
of the church to Which it belongs. 

3. The first a main intention of this evan- 
gelical treasury is to be, the propagation of religion ; 
and therefore, when any attempts of usefulness are to 
be made on unevangelised places, the neighbouring 
ministers may consult each of the churches, what pro- 
portion they may allow out of their evangelical treasu- 
ry, towards the support of so noble an undertaking. 

4, This evangelical treasury may be applied to oth- 
er pious uses, and especially to such as any particular 
church may think fit, for the service ef religion in 
their own vicinity: Such as the sending of Bibles and 
catechisms to be dispersed among the poor, where it 
may be thought necessary. Likewise, giving assist- 
ance to new congregations, in their first attempts to 
build meeting-houses forthe public worship of God 
with scriptural purity. 

Query—Our churches have their sacramental col- 
lections, and it is not fit indeed that they should be 
without them. The primitive Christians did the 
same : Justin Martyr informs us of the “ collections,” 
and Tertullian of the “gifts of piety,’? which were 
made on such occasions. But would not our churches 
do well to augment their liberality in their grateful 
and joyful collections at the table of the Lord, and to 
resolve that what is now collected shall be part of 
their evangelical treasury ; not only for the supply of 
the table and the relief of the poor, but also for such 
other services to the kingdom of God as they may, 
from time to time, find occasion to countenance ? 


ie - PROPOSALS TO MAGISTRATES. 

; y 

_ From.ecclesiastical circumstances, which, in such 
_ a subject as the present, may with the utmost propri- 
. a 


92 ESSAYS TO DO GOCD. 


ety claim the precedency, we will make a transition to 
POLITICAL. Now— Touch the mountains, and they 
will smoke!” O when shall wisdom visit princes 
and nobles, and all the judges of the earth, and in- 
spire them to preserve the due lustre of their charac- 
ter, by a desire to do good on the earth, and a study 


dresses them, cannot but be overwhelmed with some 
confusion of thought, scarcely knowing where to be- 
_ gin, when to conclude, or how to assign a fit order to 
his addresses. Indeed, the very definition of govern- 
ment is, “ A care for the safety of others.” Sirs, 
from whom have you received this power? “ You 
could have no power at all, except it were given you 
from above.”’ Certainly what is thus received from 
God should be employed for God. “ Be wise now, 
therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of 
the earth: serve the Lord with fear,” lest you forget 
and offend him who has made you what youare. Kiss 
the feet of the Son of God, lest he be displeased at the 
neglect of your duty. Do not kindle the wrath of 
him, who is “ the blessed and only Potentate, the King 
of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” What is the name of 
a magistrate? The name which he that made him 
has given him is, “the minister of God for good.” 
His empty name will produce a sad crime, if he do 
not set himself to “ do good,” as far as ever he can. 
extend his influence. Is hea vicegerent for God, 
and shall he do nothing for God? Gross absurdity ! 
black ingratitude! Is he one of those whom the 
word of God has called gods? Gods who do no good, 
are not worthy of that honourable appellation, but 
another name, too horrible to be mentioned, belongs — 
to them: such rulers we may call gods “that have 
mouths, but they speak not; eyes, but they see not; ~ 
noses, but they smell not ; aud hands, but they ha 
not!” Government is called, * The ordinance ¢ 
God ;” and as the administration of itis to avoic 
those illegalities which would render it no other than 
a violation of the ordinance ; so it should vigorously 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 93 


pursue that noble and blessed end for which it is de- 
signed—the good of mankind. Unworthy of all their 
other flourishing titles are those rulers who are not 
chiefly ambitious to be entitled benefactors. The 
greatest monarch in christendom, one who by com- 
putation has fourscore millions of subjects, and whom 
the scripture styles, “ The head over many coun- 
tries,” is in the sacred prophecies called “ A vile per- 
son:” and such indeed is the character of every 
magistrate who does not aim to do good in the world. 
Rulers who make no other use of their superior 
station than to swagger over their neighbours, com- 
mand their obsequious flatteries, enrich themselves 
with their spoils, and then wallow’in sensual and bru- 
tal pleasures, are the basest of men. From a sense 
of this, the Venetians, though they allow concubines, 
yet never employ a tradesman whom they observe to 
be excessively addicted to sensual gratifications ; es- 
teeming such a character a mere cypher. Because a 
wretched world will continue averse to the kingdom 
of the glorious and only Saviour, and say of our Im- 
manuel, “ We will not have this man to reign over 
us ;”” it is therefore very much put into the hands of 
such selfish, sensual, and wicked rulers. While the 
deserved curse of God remains upon an impious and 
infatuated world, but few rulers will be found who 
will seriously and strenously devise its good, and seek 
to be blessings to it. Many, alas! there are, whose 
lives are not worthy of a prayer, nor their deaths of a 
tear. Athanasius has well answered the question, 
Whence is it that such worthless and wicked men 
get into authority ? “It is,’ says he, “because the 
people are wicked, and must be punished swith men 
after their own hearts.” Thus, when a Phocas was 
made emperor, 1a religious man complaining to 
Heaven, “ Why hast thou made this man emperor ¢ at 
was answered, “I could not find a worse.” Evil 
rulers are well reckoned by the historian, among the 
| effects “of divine vengeance :” they may go into the 
li catalogue with the sword, the pestilence, and fire. 
One man may be worse than all three. Such bring 
ee 12 


94 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


Coreen eenee 


up the rear in the train of the “ pale horse” — the 
beasts of the earth.” ! 

“ O our God, our God, when will thy cotaphiesieds: 
to a miserable world appear in bestowing upon it good 
rulers, able men, men of truth, fearing God, and hat- 
ing covetousness! O that the time were come, when 
there shall be a ruler over men, the Just One, thy Je- 
sus, ruling in the fear of God ; he shall be as the light 
of the morning, when the sun riseth ; under him the 
mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the lit- 
tle hills by righteousness. Hasten it in thy good time, 
O Lord! How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou 
not judge, and make the kingdoms of this world, thy 
own, and remove them that corrupt the earth, and in 
a great chain bind up him who pretends that the king- 
doms of the world are his, and those who are the rulers 
of the darknessrof this world !” 

All you that love God, add your amen, to hasten 
the coming of this day of God. 

In the meantime it cannot be expressed rae much 
good may be done by the chief magistrate of a country 
who will make the “ doing of good” his chief inten- 
tion: witness a Constantine, a Theodosius, or a 
Gratian. ‘The first of these, notwithstanding the vast 
vares of the empire to engage his time, yet would 
every day, at stated hours, retire to his closet, and on 
his knees offer up his prayers to the God of glory. 
And that he might recommend this duty to the 
world, this admirable emperor caused his image on all 
his gold coins, and his pictures and statues, to be made 
in a praying posture, with his hands extended, and his 
eyes lifted up to heaven. O imperial piety! to be- 
hold such a prince thus publicly espousing the cause ~ 
of religion, one would think were enough to conyert 
a world! It would be so, if it were not for the dread- _ 
ful energies of one, who is become by the wrath of 
God, “ The prince of this world !” The virtuous ex- — 
ample of such a monarch as we have just described — 
is almost enough to reform whole nations: it carries” 
with it irresistible charms, by which the whole world 
is attracted and won upon, A prince exemplary foi 
piety, like the sun shining in his meridian eked 


' 
: 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 95 


eoreertneese 


sheds the rays of heaven with a most penetrating force 
upon the people, “ rejoicing under his wings.” Such 
an instance is now uncommon ; but it will not be so in 
the approaching age, when the “kings of the earth 
shall bring their glory and honour” into the holy city. 
A little piety in princes makes a glaring show; the 
eyes of their subjects are dazzled, and their minds 
ravished with it. What then would be done by a de- 
gree of piety in them, that should bear a proportion to 
the degree of their dignity, and if their piety were as 
much above that of other men as their station? Roil 
on, ye ages, to bring about such admirable spectacles ! 
What a vast influence might such princes have on 
the reformation of the world, and consequently on its 
felicity, by dispensing preferments and employmentsto 
none but such as were recommended to them by their 
virtue! If good men generally were put into com- 
missions, and none but such made commanders at sea, 
or on shore; what a great change for the better would 
the world immediately be blessed with! I will beg 
leave to say that it would be a most comprehensive 
service to a nation to get them unfettered from any 
test that may render honest and faithful men incapable 
of serving them. And I will take the liberty of say- 
ing, that disflacing a few officers, on account of their 
vicious character, would do far more to improve the 
state of a depraved and afflicted nation, than a thou- 
sand frroclamations against vice, not followed with such 
regulations. ' 
Good laws are important engines to prevent much 
evil ; indeed, they reach none without doing some 
good to them: all, therefore, who have any concern 
in the legislation, should be active in promoting such 
laws as may prove of permanent advantage. The 
representatives of a people will co well to inquire, 
“ What is there still defective in our laws, leaving the 
iniquities or the necessities of men unprovided 


_ against ?” and “ What further laws may be proposed, 
_ to advance the reign of righteousness and holiness :” 


There have been laws, (and sometimes none of the 
best) which have rendered the names of their authors 
‘immortal: but the remembrance of “ the man, who 
first proposed @ good /aw,” is far more honourable than 


yy 


96 ESSAYS TO DO coop. 


eee eceeeseuse 


a statue erected to his memory. But, Sirs, if your 
fellow men forget such an action, it will not fail of a 
recompense in God’s rene or your own. 
You know whose prayer it was—“ Think upon me, 
my God, for good, according to all that I igre done 
for this people.” 

Magistrates may do incredible good by countenanc- 
ing worthy ministers. To settle and support such 
‘‘men of God’ ina place, is to become, I may say, 
the grandfathers of all the good which those men do 
inthe place. Their consultations and combinations — 
with able, faithful, zealous ministers, may produce 
better effects than any astrologer ever foretold of the 
most happy conjunction. When Moses and Aaron 
unite to do gcod, what cannot they effect? Queen 
Elizabeth admired the happiness of Suffolk, in her 
progress through the country, where she observed a 
remarkably good understanding to subsist between 
virtuous magistrates and faithful ministers. 

Briefly: We will observe a decorum in our pro- 
posals, and not suppose inattention or incapacity in the 
persons to whom we offerthem. It shall only be 
proposed, that, since magistrates are usually men of 
abilities, they would sometimes retire to a serious con- 
templation on that generous question, “ What good 
may I do in the world?” and to observe what they 
are themselyes-able to invent, (assisted by the implored 
grace of Heaven) as part of that good which they are 
to perform in “ serving their generation.” 

I mistake if old Theognis* had not a maxim, which 
ought never to be forgotten, “when the administra- — 
tion of affairs is placed in the hands of men, proud of — 
command, and devoted to their own private emolu- ~ 
ment, depend upon it the people will soon become a 
miserable people.” I propose that this maxim be ~ 
carefully remembered, and this mischiefavoided. = 

I add one thing more—“ Thinkest thou this, O ~ 
man that judgest, that thou shalt escape the judgment’ 


* An ancient Greek poet of Megara in pes He 
flourished about 144 years B. C. A moral work of his is ex 
tant, containing a summary of precepts, &c. 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOP. oT 


sebesesee 


of God?” Let the judges of the people remember that 
God will one day bring them into judgment.* © that 
rulers would realize this to themselyes—that they 
must give an account to God of the administration of 
their government. Sirs, the great God, before whom 
the greatest of you all is but a worm, will demand of 
you, “ Whether you were faithful in the discharge of 
your office? What you did for his kingdom in your 
office? Whether you did what you was able that the 
world might be the better for you?” If you would 
frequently take this subject into your consideration, 
it could not but stimulate you to the performance of 
many actions, which would be “ no grief of heart” to. 
you, another day. He was one of the best rulers in 
the world, who thus expressed himself, “* What shall 
I do when God riseth up; and when he shall visit, 
what shall I answer him?” Even Abubeker, the 
successor of Mahomet, when his people expostulated 
with him for walking on foot, when he reviewed his 
army, said, “I shall find my account with God for 
these steps.” He has less christianity than a Ma- 
hometan, who is utterly unmindful of the account he 
must give to God for the steps which he takes. 

How prosperously did the affairs of Neo-Czsaria 
proceed, when Basil, who resided there, could give 
this account of the governor, “ He was a most exact 
observer of justice; yet very courteous, obliging, 
and easy of access tothe oppressed. He was equally 
at leisure to receive the rich and the poor; but all 
wicked men were afraid of him. He utterly abhorred 
the taking of a bribe ; and his design was, in brief, to 
Taise christianity to its primitive dignity.” A Ma- 
hometan captain-general, whose name was Caled, 
once said to a Christian, * It does not at all become 
men in eminent stations, to deal deceitfully, and 
descend totricks.” It is a miserable thing, indeed, 
when Christians, in eminent statiens, will do such 
things! 


™ Judex nuper eram; jam judicor. I was but lately a 
judge; now 1 am at the bar. 


98 ESSAYS TO DBO GOOD. 


eeeee veer 


PROPOSALS TO PHYSICIANS. 


‘a4 


Tue Prysicran enjoys many opportunities of do- 
ing good, and so ‘rendering himself, “a beloved phy- 
sician ;”’ for this purpose we shall offer our advice. 

Zaccuth, the Portuguese, who, among many other 
works, composed “ A history of the most eminent 
physicians,” after he was settled in Amsterdam, sub- 
mitted to circumcision, and thereby evinced, that for 
the thirty preceding years of his life, he had only dis- 
sembled christianity at Lisbon ; yet, because he was 
very charitable to poor patients, he was highly es-— 
teemed: we now apply ourselves to those whose 
love to christianity is, we hope, “ without dissimula- 
tion.” From them may be expected a charity anda 
usefulness, which may entitle them ‘to a remembrance 
in a better/history than that of Zacutus Lusitanus ; in 
that “book of life,” in which a name ‘will be deemed. 
far more valuable than any which are recorded in the 
“Vite Illustrium Medicorum’—The lives of il- 
lustrious physicians.* abe 

By serious and shining piety in your own example, 
you will beara glorious testimony to the cause of God 
and religion. You will glorify the God of nature, and 
the only Saviour. Your acquaintance with nature 
will indeed be your condemnation, if you do it not. 
Nothing is so unnatural as to be irreligious, “ Religio 
Medici,” (the religion of the physician) has the least 
reason of any-under heaven to be an “ irreligion.” 
They have acted the most unreasonable’ part, who 
have given occasion for that complaint of christians, 
“Where there are three physicians, there are three 
atheists.”t Itis sad to reflect, that when we read 
about the state of the Refhaim in the other world, the 
Physicians are, by so many translators, carried into it. 
It is sad to reflect, that the Jews should imagine they — 
have reason to say, “ The best of the physicians go to” 
hell.”~ For this severe sentence, they assign the fol Ag 

- igh 


* 

* By Peter Castellanus. 
+ Ubi tres medici, tres athei. 7 poe. +. 
t Optimus inter medicos ad gehennam. 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 99 


Ceotewtaenees 


lowing cause,—* for he is not warned by diseases ; he 
fares sumptuously, and huimbles not his heart before 
God. Sometimes he is even accessary to the death of 
men, when he neglects the poor; whom he might 
cure.”* <A sad story, if it be true ! 

Gentlemen, you will never account yourselves such 
adepts as to be at a stand in your studies, and make no’ 
further progress in your inquiries into the nature of 
diseases and their remedies. ‘ A physician arrived 
at his full growth” looks dangerously and ominously. 

Had the world gone on with merely an £sculapius, 
furnished only with a goat whose milk was jtharmacy, 
and a dog, whose tongue was surgery, we had been in 
a miserable state. You will be diligent, studious, in- 
quisitive ; and continue to read much, to think more, ~ 
and to pray most of all: and be solicitous to invent 
and dispense something very considerable for the good 
of mankind, which none before you had discovered : 
be solicitous to make some addition to the treasures of 
your noble profession. To obtain the honour of being 
a Sydenham may not be in your power ;7 yet * tedo 
something” is a laudable ambition. 

- By the benefit they expect from you, and by the 
charms of your polite education and manners, you are 
sometimes introduced into 'the familiar acquaintance 
of great men; persons of the first quality entertain 
you with freedom and friendship: probably you be-* 
come, under the oath of Hippocrates, a kind of con- 
fessors to them, (indeed for several ages, the confessors 
were usually the physicians of the people.) What an 
advantage does this furnish you with for doing good ! 
The poor Jews, both in the east and west parts of the 
world, have procured many advantages by means of 
their countrymen, who have risen to be physicians to 
the princes of the countries in which they resided. 
si your permission “ todeel the pulse” of eminent 


eee 


_ * Non enim metuit a morbis; vescitur laute, nec confrin- 
| git cor suum Deo ; aliquando etiam interficit homines,. ci ae? 
| do.pauperes quos posset, non sanat. 


+ Non cuivis homini contingit. - 


ow 


100 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD, 


Overeerenoes 


persons may enable you to promote many a good 
work: you need not be told what: you will soon per- 
ceive excellent methods, if you will only deliberate 
upon it : “ What proposals may I make to my patient, 
by attending to which, he may do good in the world ?” 
If you read what Gregory Nazianzen writes of his 
brother Czsarius, a famous and respectable physician, 
you will doubtless find your desires excited to act in 
this manner. You know how ready the sick are to 
hear of good proposals ; and how seasonable it is te 
urge such upon them, when the commencement of 

recovery from sickness calls for their gratitude to the 

God of their health. And for persons also who are 

in health, you may find, ** Seasonable times: to drop a 

hint.”* 

Physicians are frequently men of universal learn- 
ing: they have sufficient ability, and sometimes op- 
portunity to write books on a vast variety of subjects, 
whereby knowledge and virtue may be greatly ad- 
vanced in the world. The late Epic poems of a 
Blackmore, and Cosmologia Sacra of a Grew, are re- 
cent examples: mankind is much indebted to those 
learned physicians; their names are immortalised ; 
they need no statues, nor need they mind the envy of 
a modern Theophrastus. <A catalogue of books writ- 
ten by learned physicians, on various subjects, besides | 
those of their own profession, would in itself almost 
make a volume. In the great army of learned physi- 
cians who have published their labours on the “* word 
which the Lord has given,” and for the service of his 
church, and of the world, I humbly move, that the in- 
comparable Zuinger and Gesner may appear as field- 
officers. A city Zauris were too mean a present for 
physicians of such distinguished merit. I propose 
them to imitation, that many may follow such exam-~— 
ples. You know that Frehef has brought on his thea~ — 
tre, nearly five hundred famous physicians, with some 
account of their lives and works; there are very few 
Britons among them, and none at all that lived to the 
end of the former century. What a vast adit a 


* Mollissima tempora fandi. 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 1or° 


might there be since made to that “ list of honour,’ 
from the British nations! May an excellent ambi- 
tion to be enrolled in it, excite those who have ability, 
to “do worthily !” 

Physicians have innumerable opportunities to assist 
the poor, andto give them advice gratis. It wasa 
noble saying of Cicere, “ A man cannot have better 
fortune than to be.able, nor a better temper than to be 
willing, to save many.”* But I will set before you a 
higher consideration’ than that, with which a pagan 
Kirker was ever acquainted. Sirs, the more charity, 
compassion, and condescension with which you treat 
the poor, the nearer will you approach tothe greatest 
and highest of all glories ;—an imitation of your ador- 
able Saviour. _ You will readily say, “ Why should L 
esteem that mean, which reflected honour on Christ?” 
In comparison of this consolation, it will be a small 
thing to say to you, that your coming among the 
poor, will be to them like the descent of the Angel of 
Bethesda. We will net presume to prescribe to you 
what geod you shall do to the poor ; but beg leave to 
enter an objection against your taking any fees on the 
Lord’s day ; because the time is not yours, but the 
Lord’s. * ~ 

When we consider how much the lives of men 
are in the hands of God ; what a dependence we have 
on the God of our health, for our cure when we hare 
lost it; what strong and remarkable proofs we have 
had of angels, by their communications cr operations, 
contributing to the cure of the diseases with which 
mortals have been oppressed ; and the marvellous ef- 
ficacy of prayer for the recovery of asick brother who 
has not sinned a *‘ sin unto death :”—what better thing 
can be recommended to a physician, who desires to 
* do good,” than this—to be a man of prayer. -In 
your daily and secret, prayer, carry’every one of 
your patients as you would your own children 
to the glorious Lord our healer, for his healing 


* Nil habet fortuna melias, quam ut possis, a natura 
prestantius, quam ut velis, servareplures. 
¢ Quod decuit Christum, cur mihi turpe putem 
K 


. 


ba, 6 ee 


102 SSAYS TO-DO GOOD. 


‘mercies: place them, as far as your prayers will 
do ity under the beams of the “ Sun of Righteous- 
ness.” Amd as any new case of your patients may 
occur, especially if there be any uifficulty i in it, why 
should you not make your particular and solicitous 
application to Heaven for direction ?—*O Lord, I 
know that the way of man is not in himself, nor is it in 
man that walketh to direct his steps 5 ; nor in man that 
healeth to perform bis cures.” Hippocrates advised 
-physicians, when they visited their patients, to consid- 
er whether there might not be something supernatural 
.in the disease : “ Divinum quiddamin morbo.” Tru- 
ly, in some sense, this is always the case, and 
should be so considered. Whata heavenly life might 
you lead, if yeur profession were carried on with as 
many visits to Heaven, as you pay to your patients! 
One Jacob Tzaphalon, .a famous Jew-of the former 
century, published at. Venice, a book entitled, “Pre- - 
‘cious stones.” There are seyeral prayers in the 
book, and among them a pretty long one, ** For phy- 
sicians when they go to visit their patients.” That 
expression of the Psalmist, “ Thou hast made me 
wiser than mine enemies,” may be read, ‘* Thou hast 
made me wise from mine enemies.” ™ We ought to 
learn, even from an enemy ; i: est, et ab hoste.’ 
Surely ehrieanity will not, in her devotions, fall Short 
of Judaism ! st 

We read that “‘Heaviness in the heart of man 
maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad. A 
cheerful heart doeth good like a -medicife ; buta 
broken spirit drieth up the bones.” Baglivi is not the 
only physician who has made the observation, “ That 
agreat many of our diseases, either arise from a 
weight of cares lying-on ee minds of men, or are 
theneby increased. ‘Some diseases that seem incura- 
ble are easily cured by agreeable conversation. Dis- 
orders of the mind first bring diseases on the stom- 
ach ; and so the whole mass of blood gradual be- 
comes infected : and as long as the mental cau 
tinues, the diseases may indeed. change their - 
but they rarely quit ‘the patients.” Tranguill 
mind will:do wonderful things towards the relief 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 103 


bodily maladies. It is not without reason that Hos- 
man, im his dissertation, “Des Moyens de Vivre 
Long-temps,” insists on tranquillity of mimd as the 
chief among the “ means to promote longevity ;” and 
says, that this is the meaning of that passage ; “ The 
fear of the Lord tendeth to life.’ They who have 
- practised the “art of curing by expectation” have 
made experiments of what the mind will do towards’ 
the cure of the body: this may be also known by 
practising the “art of consolation.” I propose then, 
that the physician endeavour to fing out, by all possi- 
ble ingenuity of conversation, what matter of anxiety 
there may have been uponthe mind of the patient, 
that has rendered his life burdensome. Having dis- 
covered the burden, use all possible ways to take it 
off. Offer him such thoughts as may be the best 
anodynes for his distressed mind ; especially the 

- “right thoughts of the righteous,” and the means of 
obtaining:composure of mind upon religious princi- 
ples. Give hima prospect, if you can, of some de- 
liverance from his distresses, or some abatement of 
them. Excite in him as pleasing thoughts as possi- 
ble: scatter the clouds, and removethe loads with 
which his mindis perplexed: especially by repre- 
senting and magnifying the mercy of God in Christ 
tohim. It is possible, Sir, that in this way also, you 
may find abundant opportunities of usefulness, by do- 
ing yourself, or by bringing others to do kindness to 
the miserable. 

What should hinder you from considering the souls 
of your patients ; their spiritual health ; what they 
have done,and whatthey have to do, that they may 
be on good terms with Heaven! You may take occz- 
sion, from their natural digprders, to affect your own 
mind and theirs also, witfMa sense of our correspond- 
ing moral-ones. You may make your conversation 
with them,a vehicle for conveying such admonitions of 
piety,as may be most needful for them: that they may 
be found neither unprepared for death, nor unthank- 
ful and unfruitful, if their lives should be prolonged. 
This you may do, without any*intrusion on the office 
_ of the minister: on the contrary, you may at the 


104 ESSAYS TO BO GOOD. 


aesceeercete 


same time doa very ¢ good office for the minister, as 
well as for the patient ; and may inform the minis- 
ter, whem) where, and how he may be very servicea- 
ble among the miserable, with whose cases. he might 
otherwise remain unacquainted. The “ art of heal- 
ing” was, you know, first brought inte a system, by 
men who had the ‘* care of souls :” and I know not 
why they who profess that noble “ art” should wholly 
cast off that “care.” Perhaps you remember to 
have read ofa king who was also a physician, (for 
other crowned heads, besides Mithridates, Hadrianus, 
and Constantinus. Pogonatus have been so,) and who. 
gave this reason why the Greeks. had diseases among 
them which remained. se much uncured ; “ Because 
they neglected their souls, the chief thing of all.” 
For my part, l know not why the physician. should 
wholly neglect the souls of his patients. 

I will not detain you much longer. Yon are not 
ignorant, that medicine once was, and in many une- 
vangelised parts of the world is still esteemed a thing 
horribly magical. Celsus relates, as a part of the 
Egyptian philosophy current in his time, that the 
body of man was divided into thirty-six parts, each of 
-which was the peculiar allotment and possession of a 
demon ; and this demon was invoked by the Magi to 
cure diseases of the part that belonged to him. Even 
in Galen’s time we find Egyptian Legerdemain * 
practised : he himself writes of it. From Egypt 
other countries became acquainted with this art:: 
hence medicines were called pharmaca.t The Ori- 
ental nations had their Teraphim for the cure of dis- 
eases: hence the same Greek word signifies both to 
worship and to cure; and the “cure of diseases” is 
reckoned by Eusebius a e main article of the Pagan 
theology. God used aR per means to prevent his: 
people from having any thing te do with such sort of 
men orof means. He recommenéndleg to them the 
study of nature, and of nateral remedies. ~ Thus, after 
the example of Solomon, they studied botany, and had 


ii Prestigiaturas gyptias. ; + Mad 
+ Pharmacos; in Greek, being a sorcerer, ari 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 103 


coon ereroenes 


their apothecaries, who were to furnish them with 
materials for medicines. The princes of Judea had, 
as Pliny informs us, their medicinal gardens. Proba- 
bly Naboth’s vineyard might have such a one in it; 
and this might be the reason why Ahab so coveted it. 
Joram, the son of Ahab, repaired thither to be cured 
of his wounds. An excellent Physician, in a late 
composition with which he has favoured the public, 
supposes that the sin of Asa, when he “ sought not 
unto the Lord, but unto the physicians,” was both 
occasioned and aggravated by this circumstance, that 
there were at that time none but magical physicians, 
But others have thought that some of Asa’s ancestors 
had been medically disposed, and were students in the 
art of healing. From hence might come the name of 
Asa, which in Chaldee, means physician. On this 
account the king might have the greater esteem for 
those who were skilled in medicine, and might put 
such a confidence in them as to neglect the glorious 
God, the only author and giver of health. What I 
aim at in this paragraph is, to encourage a conduct 
the reverse of all this ; that my honourable Asa, 
(such the son of Sirach has taught me to call him) 
would himself centinually go to God our Saviour, and 
as far as possible bring all his patients to him also. 

Finally—An industrious and ingenious gentleman of 
your profession has a passage in his Pharmacopeia 
Buteana, which [I will here insert, because very many” 
of you can speak the same language ; and by insert- 
ing it, I hope to increase the number. 

“ T know ho poor creature that ever came to me, in 
the whole course of my practice, that once went from 
me, without my desired help, gratis. And | have 
accounted the restoration @such a poor and wretch- 
edcreature, a greater blessing to me, thanifI had 
procured the wealth of both the Indies. I cannot so 
_ well express myself concerning this matter, as I can 
_. conceive it ; but lam sure I should have been more 
pleased, and had a greater satisfaction in seeing such 
a helpless creature restored to his desired health, than 
if1 had found a ie valuable treasure. As I can 

2 


106 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. F 
never repent of the good which I have done’this way, 
so I resolve to continue the same practice, for I cer- 
tainly know that I have had the signal blessing of God 
attending my endeavours.” 
enema 


* 


PROPOSALS TO RICH MEN. 


“ T wILt get me unto the Ricw MEN, and will speak 
unto them,” for they will know the ways to “do 
good,” and willthink what they shall be able to say 
when they come into the judgment of their God. A 
person of quality, quoting that passage, “* The desire 
ofa man is his kindness,” invited me so to read it, 
“ The only desirable thing in a man is his goodness.” 
How happy would the world be, if every person of 
quality were to become of this persuasion! It is an 
article in my commission, “ Charge them that are 
rich in this world, that they do @oad, that they be rich 
in good works, ready to distribute, willing to commu- 
nicate.” | In pursuance thereof, I will remind rich 
men ofthe opportunities to ** do good,” with which 
God, who gives power to get wealth, has. favoured an 
enriched them. It isa very good account that has 
been sometimes given of a good man ; “ As to the 
wealth ofthis world, he knew no good in it, but the 
doing of good with it.” Yea, those men who have 
had very little zoodness in them, yet in describing 
“the manners of the age,” in which perhaps they 
themselves have had too deep a share, have seen oc- 
casion to subscribe and publish this prime dictate of 
reason ; “ Weare none the better for any thing, bare- 
ly for the propricty’s sake ; but it is the application af 
it that gives every thingits value. Whoever buries 
his talent, betrays a sacreg trust, and defrauds those 
who stand in need of it™® Sirs, you cannot but ac-. 
knowledge that it is the sovereign God who has be- 
stowed upon you the riches which. distinguish you. 
A devil himself, when he saw a rich man, could not but © 
make this acknowledgment to the God of heay 
*“ Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, an 
substance is increased in the land.” It is also to 
hoped, that you are not unmindful that the 
your possession are some of the talents of whi 


sae. 
7 
. 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 107 


eeeenereeace 


must give an account to the glorious Lord who has 
entrusted you with them; and that you will give 
your account with grief, and not with joy, if it should 
be found that all your property has been laid out to 
gratify the appem™ ot th flesh, and little or nothing 
of it consecrated t6 the service of God, and of his 
kingdom inthe world. It was said to the priests of 
old, when the servants were assigned them ; “ Unto 
you they are given asa gift for the Lord.” his 
may be said of all our esiates : what God gives us is 
not given us for ourselves, but “for the Lord.” 
“¢ When God’s gifts to us are multiplied, our obliga- 
tions to give are multiplied.”* Indeed there is hardly 
any professor of christianity so vicious that he will not 
confess thatall his property is to be used: for honest 
purposes, and part of it for pious ones. ‘Tfany plead. 
their poverty to excuse and exempt them from doing 
any thing this way: O thou poor widow with thy 
two mites, eternised in the history of the gospel, 
thou shalt “ rise up in the judgment with this gener- 
ation, and shall condemn it ;” and let them also know, 
that they take a course to condemn and confine thems 
selves to eternal foverty. 

But the main question is, what ‘proportion ofa 
man’s income is to be devoted to pious uses ? And 
Now, let it not seema “hard saying,’ if I tell you 
that @ tenth fart is the least that you can bring under 
amore solemn dedication to the Lord ; for whom, in 
one sense, we are to lay out ourall. A farthing less — 
would make an enlightened and considerate chris- 
tian suspicious of his incurring the danger of sacri- 
lege. But the pious uses for which your tenths are 
thus challenged, Ido not intend only the mainte- 
trance of the evangelical mimistry, but also the relief 
of the miserable, whom our merciful Saviour has 


_ made the receivers of his rents; together with all 


that is to be more directly done for the preserving and 
promoting of piety in the world. Since there is a 
part of every man’s revenues due to the glorious 
_ Lord, and to purposes of piety, it is not fit that the de- 


- * Cumcrescunt dona, crescunt etiam rationes donorum. 


108 ESSAYS TO BO GOOD. 


termination of what fart it must be, should be left to 
such hearts as ours. My friend, thou hast, it may be, 
too high an opinion of thy own wisdom and goodness, 

if nothing but thy own carnal -heart is to determine 
what proportion of thy revenues are to be laid out for 
Him, whom thou art so ready to forget when he has 
filled thee. But if the Lord himself, to whom thou 
art but a steward, has fixed on any part of our usuak 
income for himself, as it is most reasonable that he 
should have the fixing of it, certainly a tenth will be 
found the least that he has called for. A tenth is the 
least part in the first division of numbers, which is 
that of units. Grotius remarks it, as the founda- 
tion of the laws of tithes: “ Almost all nations 
reckon by tens.”* It is but reasonable, and the 
very light of nature will declare for it, that the great 
God, who witha seventh day is owned as the Creator, 
should with a tenth part be acknowledged as the pos- 
sessor of all things. Wedo not allow him so much 

as the least, if we withhold a tenth frem him : less 
than that, is less than what all nations make the Zeast. 
Certainly to withhold this, is to withhold more than 

is proper. Sirs, you know the tendency of this. 
Long before the Mosaic dispensation of the law, we 
find that this was Jacob’s vow: “* The Lord shall be 
my God, and of all that thou shalt give me, I will 
surely give the tenth unto thee.” It seems we do 
not sufficiently declare that “the Lord is our God,” 

if we. do not givea tenthto him. And how can we 
approve ourselves “ Israelites indeed,” if we slight 
such an example as that of our father Jacob. I will 
ascend a little higher. In one text we read that our 
father Abraham, “ gave Melchisedek the tenth of 
all.” In another text we read of our Saviour Jesus, — 
“ Thou art a priest forever after the order of Mel- 
chisedek.” From hence I form this conclusion : 
the rights of Melchisedek belong to-our Jesus, the ; 
royal high priest now officiating for us in the heavens, 
The tenths were the rights of ean ey 


* Numerus denarius gentibus ferme cunctis mumerandi, 
nis est. 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 109 


orev eneraveee 


fore the tenths belong to our Jesus. I do in my con- 
science believe that this argument cannot be answer- 
ed; and the man who attempts it seems to darken 
the evidence of his being one of the true children of 
Abraham. 
' Tnow renew my appeal to the light of nature : to 
nature thou shalt go! Itis very certain that the Pa- 
gans used to decimate for sacred uses. Pliny tells us, 
that the Arabians did so. Xenophon informs us, that 
the Grecians had the same practice. You find the 
custom to be as ancient as the pen of Herodotus can 
make it. Itis confirmed by Pausanias and Diodo- 
rus Siculus, anda whole army of authors besides 
Doughty, have related and asserted it. I will only 
introduce Festus, to speak for them all: “ The an- 
cients offered to their gods the tenth of every thing.”* 
Christian, wilt thou do less for thy God than the 
oor perishing pagans did for theirs? “ O, tell it 
not’—but this I will tell ; that they, who have con- 
scientiously employed their tenths in pious uses, 
have usually been remarkably blessed in their estates, 
by the providence of God. The blessing has been 
sometimes delayed, with some trial of their patience : 
‘Not for any injustice in their hands; their prayer 
has been “ pure.” And their belief of the future 
state has been sometimes tried, by their meeting with 
losses and disappointments. But then, their /cle 
has been so blessed as to be still a competency ; and 
God has so favoured them with contentment, that it 
has yielded more than the abundance of many others. 
Very frequently too, they have been rewarded with 
remarkable success in their affairs, and increase of 
their property ; and even in this world have seen the 
| fulfilment of those promises ; “ Cast thy grain into 
the moist ground, and thou shalt find it after many 
days.” ‘* Honour the Lord with thy substance ; so 
shali thy barns be filled with plenty.”” History has 
given us may delightful examples of those who have 
had their decimations followed and rewarded by a sur- 
| prising prosperity of their affairs. Obscure mechan- . 


* Decima queque veteres Diis suis offerbant. 


. 


wo ESSAYS: TO DO GOOD. 


eee ee ree eeee 


ics and husbandmen have risen to estates, of whiely 
once they had not the most distant expectation. The 
excellent Gouge, in his treatise, entitled, “ The surest. 
and safest way of thriving,” has collected some such 
examples. The Jewish proverb, * Decima, ut dives 

fias—Tithe, and be rich,” would be oftener verified, ’ 
if more frequently practised. ‘* Prove me now heré-- 


. With, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will hot sii a 


blessing upon you.” 
ut let the demand of “ liberal thine “grow 
upon you: azenzh J have called the /eas¢ ; for some it 
/ is much too Httle. Men of large incomes, who would 
‘not “sow to their flesh, and of the flesh reap cor- 


; ruption,” may and will often go beyond thas propor- 
tion. Some rise to a fifth; and the religious countess- 
- of Warwick would not stop at any thing short of a 


third. Gentlemen of fortune, who are my. readers, 
would perhaps exciise me ft were to. \ 

higher than. this, and to say nothing t to them of aJo-- 
hannes: Eleemosy nariusy, who annually anal . dite 
tribution of a// to pious uses; and having settled his 


_ affairs, said, “I bless God that I have now nothing left 


but my Lordand Master, Christ, whom I longtobe with, © 
and to whom I can now fly with unentangled wings.” 
Yet I will mention to them the example of some 
eminent merchants, who having obtained moderate and 
competent estates, have resolved never to be richer.” 
They have carried on brisk and extensive trades, but 
whatever profits raised their incomes above the fixed 
sum, they have entirely devoted to pious uses. Were 
any of them losers by this conduct? Not one. 

Lhe Christian emperor Tiberius IT. was was famous fox for 
his religious: bounties: bis €mpress | thought him ever eve 
profuse inthem. But he told her that he should néver 
Want money so long as, in obedience to a” glorious 
Christ, he should supply the necessities of the { = poor, xg 
and abound in religious benevolence. _ Once; i imme-— 
diately after he had made a liberal 
unexpectedly found a mighty treas 
same time tidings were brought to him of 
of a very rich man who had bequeathed to 
wealth. And men in far humbler stations ¢é 


# 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD, 112 
“very many and interesting anecdotes of this nature, 
veven from their own happy experience. I cannot 
forbear transcribing some lines -of my honoured 
-Gouge on this océasion : 
“Tam _ verily persuaded that there is scarcely any 
gan who gives to the poor proportionably to_ what 
od has bestowed on him; but, if he observe the ” 
“dealings of God’s providence towards him, will find the 
Zamié doubled “and “redoubled upon hia in temporal. 
blessings. ‘T-dare challenge all the world to produce 
-one instance, (or at least any considerable number of 
instances,) of a merciful man, whose charity has un» 
done him. Onthe contrary, as the more living wells 
are exhausted, the more freely they spring and flames : 
-so the substance of charitable men frequently multi- 
plies in the very distribution : seven as the five loaves 
and few fishes multiplied, while being broken and dis- 
tributed, and as the, widow’s oil Bh res by being 
poured out”’ 
I will add a consideration which, methinks, will act 
as a powerful motive pon the common. feéfings of 
thuman nature. Let rich men, who are Not . “ rich 


stowards God,” especially stich’ as have no ‘children. of} 
Ahéifown to make their. heirs, consider,the vile ingrat - 
itude “with which their successors.will treat. them. 
Sirs; they will hardly allow you a tombstone ; but, wal-. 
owing in the wealth you have left them, and complains” 
ing that you left it no sooner, they will insult your 
maemozy and ridicule your economy and parsimony. — 
iow much wiser would it be for you to do good with 
your estates es while 5 Fou live, and at your déath to dis- 
pose of=them in a manner hich” ey embalm your 


prorld to which. you até-goins : Phat your souls may 

enjoy the good of paradisaical herons: at the same 

ime that ethers are inheriting what you have left te» 

them, 

I will only annex the compliment: of a certain per-* 
n to his friend; upon his accession to an estate ; 

; ood. may it do you; thatis, much good 

do with it.” 


we shall set ourselves to “ deepen! t 
Gentlemen ! To relieve the ities of the poor is is, j 


a thing acceptable to the « compassiona ite God; “who has _ 


given to you what he EMAAR 5 BBB , 
has given it to._you that you might hay ave the honour ang | 
pleasure of imparting it to them ; “and who-has’ said, — 
“He that bath pity upon the poor, Jendeth unto the — 
Lord.” The more you regard the command and — 
example of a glorious Christ in what you do this way, — 
the more assurance you have that in the day of God — 
you shall joy fully hear him saying, * You have done 
ihapn'o me.” And the more humble, silent, reserved — 
esty you express, concealing even from the left 
hand what is done with the right, the more you are” 
assured of a great reward in the heavenly world. — | 
Such liberal men, it is observed, are generally long- 
lived men; (“Gathering the fruit relieves the — 
tree”*) and at last Seay 4 pass from this into tio eine ‘ 


life. . 
= | 
PROPOSALS TO LADIES. : 


HE true Lady 1s one who feeds the poor, and re~ 
lieves their indigence.t In the days of primitive 
christianity, ladies of the first quality would seek out 
the sick, visit hospitals, see what help they wanted, 
and assist them with an admirable alacrity. What a 
“ good report” have the mother and sister of N azianzen 
obtained from his pen, for their unwearied bounty to” 
the poor! Empresses themselves have stooped to Te- 
lieve the miserable, and never appeared so truly great 
as when they thus stooped. ; 

A very proper season for your alms is, when you 
keep your days of prayer; that your prayers and 
youralms may go up together as a memorial. be- 


“ Fructus liberat arborem. — 


} The following is supposed to be the etymology | of th 
Lady. Itwas at first Leafdian, from Leaf or I 
fies a loaf of bread, and D’ian to serve. It 
corrupted to Lafdy, and at length to Lady. So th: 
the original meaning of the term bab onc” 

bread. ¥ 


ESSAYS TO DO GooD. 113 
fore the Lord. Verily, there are frayers in alms: 
and, “ Is not this the fast that I have chosen, saith 
the Lord.” The expression of the beggar among 
the Jews was; “ Deserve something by me :” among 
us it might be ; “ Obtain something by me.” 


MISCELLANEOUS PROPOSALS TO GENTLEMEN. 


THERE is a certain city, in which every house 
has a box hanging by achain, on which is written, 
“ Remember the poor ;” and they seldom conclude 
a bargain without putting something into t 
The deacons have the key, and once a qu 
round the city, and take out the money.” 
city was in imminent danger, a man of 
character was heard to say, “ That he-was 
God would preserve that city from beingy: 
if it were only for the great charity which its inhabi- 
tants express to the poor.” It is the richest city 
of the richest country, for its size, that ever existed : 
a uch is thought to spend, annually, in chari- 
table $, more than all the revenues which the fine 
country of the grand duke of Tuscany brings into 
its arbitrary master. “ The hands of the poor are. 
the treasury-box of Christ.”’* % 

When you dispense your alms to the poor, whe 
know what it is to pray, you may oblige them to pray 
for you by name every day. It is an excellent thing 
to have the blessing of those who have been ready to 
perish, thus coming upon you. Observe hefe a sur- 
prising sense, in which you may be “ praying: always." 
You are so, even while you are sleeping, fit: 
whom you have thus obliged are praying for “¥ou. 
And now look for the accomplishment of that word : 
“ Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord 
will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he shall be 
| blessed upon the earth.” 

Very frequently your alms are dispersed among 
such persons as very much need admonitions# ety. 
Cannot you contrive to mingle a spiritual ef arity;wit 
your temporal bounty? Perhaps you may discour 
“with them about the state of their souls, and aa Bs 
S L 
* Manus pauperum est Christi ceacanbepes Ain, 


ie 


114 ESSAYS TO DO Goo. 


tain from them, (for which you have” now a singular 
advantage) some declared resolutions to do what they 
eught todo. Or else you may convey to them little 
books, or tracts, which they will certainly Promise to 
read, when you thus desire them. 

Charity tothe souls of men is undoubtedly the 
highest, the noblest, andthe most‘important charity. 
¥o furnish-the poor with catechisms.and Bibles, is to 
-do for them an incalculable service. No one knows 
how much he may do by dispersing books of pi- 
ety» and by putting into.the hands of mankind such 
tises of divinity as may havea tendency to make 
r or better. It was a noble action 
ood men, who, a little while ago, were 
at the ge of printing thirty thousand .of the 
4 Alken te the Unconverted,” written by Joseph Al- 

lein, to-be given away:to such as would promise to 
read it. A man of no great fortune has.been known 
to give away without much trouble nearly a thousand | 
‘books.of piety, every year for many years t er. 4 
Who can:tell, but that with the expense ofJes ‘a 9 
shilling, you may “convert a-sinner from the error of 
his ways, and save a. soul from death.” A worse 
doom than to be “ condemned to the mines” rests up- 
on that soul who had.rather hoard up his money than 
employ it on such a charity. be 
’ He who supports the office of the evangelical min- 
istry supperts a good work, and performs one; yea, 
in a secondary way, performs what is done-by the skil- 
ful, faithfyl, and laborious minister. Whe servant of 
the Lord, who is encouraged by you, will do the more 
good for your assistance : and what you have done for 
him, and in consideration af the glorious gospel 
preached by him, you have done for a glorious Christ ; 
and you shall “ receive.a prophet’s reward.” Luther 
said ; “ What you give to scholars, you give to God 
himself.”* This -is stillsmore true, when the schol- — 
ars are become godly and useful preachers. hy 
I have somewhere met with the following passage : ei 


“It was for several years the practi a worthy 
gentleman, in renewing his leases, ins of maki 
e ae 
* Si quid scholasticis confers, Deo tpsi contulisti, « 


, 
7 


ESSA¥S TO DO GOdD;. hs 


oeetenesee ae 


it-a-condition that-his tenants » should keep a hawk or 
a dog for him, to-oblige them to keep a Bible in their 
houses, and to bring up their children to read and to be 
catechised.”” Landlords !- It-is worth your consider- 
ation. whether you may: not in. your leases insert 
some clauses that may serve the kingdom-of God. 
You are his tenants in- those very freeholds in which 
you are landiords-‘to other men. Oblige your tenants 
to worship»God in their families: a 

To take a poor child, especially an orphan, left in 
poverty, and to bestow a liberal education upon it, is- 
an admirable charity ; yea,.it may draw after ita long 
train of good, and may interest yowin all the good 
that shalhbe done by him whom.-you have educa) 

Hence also, what is done for schools, for ate 


and for hospitals, is done for the generak good: . gl he” -: 


endowment or maintenance of these is-at once’ to do 
good to many. 

But, alas! how much of the silver and gold of the 
world is buried in hands, where it is little better pan 
con d back to the mines from whence it came! 
How much of it is employed to as little parpose as. 
what arrives at Hindoostan, where a great part of it is, 
after some circulation, earried as to a fatal centre, and 
by the Moguls lodged i in subterraneous caves, never to 
see the light again! “The Christian, whose faith and 
hope are genuine, acts not thus.”* 

Sometimes elaborate compositions: may be prepar- 
ed for the press, works of great bulk, and of still 
greater worth, by which the best interests of knowl- 
‘edge and virtue may be considerably promoted ; but 
they lie, like the impotent man at the pool of Bethse- 
da, in silent neglect ; and are likely to: continue in 
that state, till God inspire some wealthy persons no- 
bly to subscribe to their publication, and by this gen- 
erous application of their property, to bring them a- 
broad. The names of such noble benefactors to 
mankind ought to. live as leng as the works them-) 
| selves ; and where the works. do any good, what these 
have done towards the publistite:s of them, ought. to 
_be “ told for a memorial” of; : 


* Talia non facit bonx fidei a 2¢i 


XR 


4316 Essays TO pO GOOD: 


I will pursue this cage still farther. It has been 
said that “idle gentlemen, and idle beggars, are the 
pests of the commonwealth.” The saying may seem 
afronting, but they who are offended at it must quar- 
rel with the ashes of a bishop, for it was Dr. Sander- 
son’s. Will you then think, Sirs, of some honourable 
and agreeable employments ! I will mention one: 
The Pythagoreans forbade men’s “ eating their own 
brains,” or, “keeping their good thoughts to them- 
selves.” The incomparable Boyle observes, that “ as 
to religious books, in general, those which have been 
written by laymen, and especially by gentlemen, 
have (ceteris paribus) been better received, and more ~~ 
effectual, than those published by clergymen.” Mr. 
Boyle’s were certainly so. Men of quality have fre- 

‘quently attained such accomplishments in languages 
and science, that they have become prodigies:of litera- 
ture. Their libraries also have seen stupendous col- 
lections, approaching towards Vatican or Bodleian 
dimensions. An English gentleman has been some- 
times the most “accomplished person in th 1d.” 

- How many of these (besides a Leigh, a Wolsely, or a | 

Polhill) have been benefactors to mankind by their — 
admirable writings ! It were much’ to be wished that 
persons Of wealth and elevation would qualify them- 
selves for the use of the pen as well as of the sword, 
and deserve this eulogium, “* They have written ex- — 
cellent things.’ An English person of quality, in 
his treatise, entitled, “ A View of the Soul,” has the 
following passage : “ It is certainly the highest digni- 
ty, if not the greatest happiness, of which human na- 
ture is capable in the vale below, to have the soul so 
far enlightened, as to become the AAINTOR; or conduit, 
or conveyor a; God’s truth to others.” ‘Itis'a bad 
motto fora man of capacity, “ My understanding is 
unfruitful.” Gentlemen, consider what subjects may — 
most properly and usefully fall under your Cultleytin 
tion. Your pens will stab atheism and vice tatoni hy 
fectually than other men’s. If eut of your * Tribe’ 
there come forth “those..who handle the pen of th 
writer,” they will do uncommon execution. On 
them has ingenuously said, “ Though | ¥ know 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. VEF 


Junctions, yet I know no ¢ruths of religion, which,. 
like the showbread, are only for the priests.’’* 

I will present to you but one proposal more, and it 
is this, That you would wisely choose a friend of good 
abilities, of warm affections, and of excellent piety, (a 
minister of such a character if you can) and entreat 
him, yea, oblige him to study for you, and to suggest 
to you opportunities todo good. Make him, as 4m- 
brosius did his Origen, your Monitor. Let him ad- 
vice you, from time to time, what good you may do. 
Let him see that he never gratifies you more than by 
his advice om this head. If a David have a Seer to 
perform such an office for him, one who may search 
for occasions of doing good, what extensive services 
may be done for the- temple of God in the world |. 

Let me only add, that when gentlemen occasional- 
ly meet together; why should not their conversation 
correspond “with their superior station ? They should. 
deem it beneath them: to employ the conversation on 
trifling subjects, or in such a way that, if it were se- 
cretlystaken.in short hand, they. would blush‘to hear 
it repeated.t Sirs, it becomes a gentleman to enter- 
tain his company with the finest plats on the 
finest themes ; and certainly there can b 
so worthy. of a gentleman as this, What good isit 
to be done in the world? Were this noble sub 
more: frequently started in the conyersatio of 
tlemen, incredible good might be achieved. . 

I will conclude by saying, You must accept’ of any- 
public service, of which you-are capable, when you are 
called to it. Honest Jeans has this pungent pas-. 
sage : “ The world applauds the. prudent retirement 
of those-who bury their partsand gifts in an obscure 
privacy, though they have a fair call, both from God 
and man, to public engagements: but the terrible 
censure of these men by Jesus Christ at the last day; 


———- 


tise ft. xii. 4, 
+ “Nihil sed’ nug; et risus, et verba proferuntur i in vent: 
_um”—Nothing but jesting, ughing;,.and words scattered 
: ack the wind. ' 


“h 2 eS 


118 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


will prove them to have been the most arrant fools 
that ever lived on the face of the earth.” The fault: 
of not employing our talent forthe public good is 

justly styled, “ A great sacrilege in the temple of the’ 
God of Nature.” It was a sad age of which Tacitus 

said, “ Indolent retirement was wisdom.”* =” 


+ 
PROPOSALS TO CHURCH, CIVIL, AND MILITARY 
OFFICERS. 


Tr will be recollected, that one of our first propo- 
sals was, that every one should consider, “ What can 
I do for the service of God, and the welfare of man ?” 
It may be hoped that all orrrcERs, as such, will con- 
form to what has been proposed. It should be the 
concern of all officers, from the emperor to the eno- 
motarch, to do all the good they can; there is, 
therefore, the less occasion to make a more particu- 
lar application to inferior officers of various kinds, all 
of whom have opportunities toda good, more omdess) 
in their hands. However, they shall not all have rea- 
son to complain of being neglected. Ege’ ak oh Se 

In some churches there are ELDERS,t who « rule 


& 
Du 
@ 
=] 
Q 
oO 
co 

lar] 
x 
vie} 
oOo 
a 
£ 
-_ 
Qa 
ae) 
“ 
oo 
(77) 
ao) 
co) 
Led 
O. 
tu. 
wer 
bis 
| 
= 
-¥ 
| hall 
$ 
g 
he 
A) 
Me 
Ss. 
” 
2 a! 
Lew} 
ow 
o 
oO. 
phe, 


+ In primitive times, Ecclesia seniores habuit 
had its elders. ‘ 
we 
ap 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 1s 


sreeeneeesnee 


rendered more comfortable ? What members of the 
flock do I thmk deficient in their contributions to 
support the interests of the gospel, and what shall I 
say “ with great boldness in the faith” to them, on. 
this subject /” 

In the Srare there are many officers, to whom the 
most significant and comprehensive proposal that can 
be made would be, To consider their oaths. If they 
would seriously reflect on the duties to which their 
oaths oblige them, and would carefully perform those 
duties, a great deal of good would be done. But we 
must a little particularize : 

As the REPRESENTATivES of any place have oppor- 
tunities to do good tothe people at large, so they 
should be particularly solicitous for the good of that 
place which has elected them. Their inquiry should 
be, “ What motions may I bring forward which will 
be for the public good, or for the advantage of my 
constituents ?” 

Those, whom we call the “sEzEcT MEN” of a 
town, will disappoint the expectations which are just 
ly formed of them, if they do not diligently consider, 
“What shall Ido that I’ may bea blessing to the 
town which I am now to serve ?”” 

GRAND-JURYMEN may very profitably inquire, 
“ What growing evils or nuisances do I discover, 
which I shall do well to make public?” They should 
hold their consultations upon these matters, as men 
in earnest for the good ofthe country. Indeed all 
| jurymen ‘should be good men. Our old compellation 
of a neighbour by the title of goodman has this ori- 
gin} it was as much as to say, one qualified to serve 
ona jury. Let such therefore answer their original 
designation, by doing good, and by pa ost how 
they may do it. 

Why should Constasies be excused from these 
| obligations ? Their name (Constabularius) was first 
| derived from the care of “ making unruly horses stand 
well ‘together in the stable.” Sirs, you have it in 

ye ar powerto do much good by being “ Masters of 
straints,” in your walks ‘and otherwise, to unruly 


re Wile > 2 
cattle. What are vicious persons, though perhaps ‘in’ 


> 


e TORS I. -? oe Begs > 


120 ESSAYS ‘a wr GOOD. 


honourable stations, but like the beasts ! Well-dispos- 
ed constables have done wonderful things in a town, 
to promote good order. I must therefore beg them 
to put to themselves the same sarees cha egh-igro 
good may I do ?” 

Where TirHinG-MEN are - chosen eat sworn, they 
have an opportunity of doing more than a little good, 
if they will conscientiously perform theirduty. Let. 
them well study the laws which lay down their duty, 
and let them also. make the same inquiry : “ What . 
good may I do ?”: Let them consult with one another 
at certain times, in order te find out what they have. 
it in their power to do, and to assist and strengthen 
one another in doing it.. Thave now done with the 
civil list. 

Mitirary CoMMANDERS. bite their opportunities. 
to “do good.” They do this in an eminent degree 
when they support exercises of piety in their several. 
companies and regiments, and when they rebuke the — 
vices of the camp with due severity. Might not so- 
cieties to suppress these vices be formed in the camp, 
to very good purpose, under their inspection? If the 
soldiers ask, “ What shall we do?” all my answer at 
present is, Sirs, consider what yow have to do. 

CoMMANDERS AT SEA have their opportunities also, 

"Fhe more absolute they are in their command, the 
greater are their opportunities. The wership of Caled 
seriously and constantly maintained aboard, will have — 

a very happy effect. A body of good orders hung uRig 
im the steerage may ‘produce consequences for which © 
all the people in the vessel may at last have reason _ 
to be thankful. Books. of piety should also be taken 
aboard, and the men should be desired to retire for — 
the perusal of them, and for other pious. cpuhinecie ' 


we 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 121 


So eee eeeeween 


just cause’ for complaint, if among proposals to do 
good, they should remain unnoticed. Some whom 
we do not find among those who addressed the bless- 
ed morning-star of our Saviour for his direction, yet 
are now found among those who inquire, “ And what 
shall we do?” I refer to the GENTLEMEN OF THE 
LAw, who have that in their hands, the end of which 
s, “ To do good ;” and the perversion of which from 
its professed end is one of the worst of evils. 
Gentlemen, your opportunities to do good are 
such, that proposals of what you are able to do, can- 
not but promise themselves an obliging reception 
with you. You have considerable advantages for this 
purpose, arising from your hberal and gentlemanly 
education: for with respect even to the common 
pleaders at the bar, I hope that maxim of the law 
will not be forgotten : “ The situation ofa lawyer is so 
dignified, that none should be raised to it from a mean 
condition in life.”* Things are not come to so bad a 
state that an honest lawyer * should require a statue, as 
the honest publican of old did, merely on the score of 
rarity. You may, if you aim at it, be entitled to ene 
on the score of universal and meritorious usefulness. 
In order to your being useful, Sirs, it is necessary 
that you should be skilful; and that you may arrive 
at an excellent skill in the law, you will be well ad- 
vised what authors to study: on this point, it may be 
of the utmost consequence to be well advised. The 
knowledge of your own statute law is incontestibly 
needful. The same may be said of the common law, 
which must continually accompany the execution of 
it. Here, besidés useful dictionaries, you have your 
Cook, Vaughan, Windgate, &c. &c. with whom you 
may converse. Iam sorry to finda gentleman, about 
the middle of the former century, complaining of the 
English law, “ that the books of it cannot be pertised, 
with any deliberation, under three or four years, and 
that the expense of them is enormous.” I do not 
propose so tedious a task ; for the cévil daw must also ~ 


¥ 


_, ® Dignitas advocatorum non patitur ut in eam. recipiatur, 
qui antea fuerat vilioris cenditionis. sap? of 


122 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD; 


eeeceeseneee 


be known by those who would’ be fully acquainted 
with legal proceedings. Huge volumes, and loads.of 
them, have been written upon it; but among. these, 
two small ones, at least, should be consulted, and di- 
gested by every one who would not be an 7gnoramus— 
I mean the Enchiridion. of Corvinus, and Arthur 
Duck’s- Treatise De usu et authoritate juris civilis.* 
I will be still more free in declaring my opinion. 
Had I learning enough to. manage a eause of that na- 
ture, 1 should be ready to maintain. it at any bar in the 
world, that there never was, under the cope of heaven, 
amore learned man, than the incomparable ALSTE= 
pius. He has written on every subject in the whole 
circle of learning, as accurately and as exquisitely as. 
those who have devoted their whole lives to the culti- 
vation of. any one particular subject. The only 
reason why his compositions are not. more esteemed 
Is, the fleonasm of his worthy. and their, desert of so 
much esteem: ‘Fo:-hear some silly men ridicule his 
labours by a foolish pun on his name—Al’'s tedious, 
is to see the ungrateful. folly. of the world ;. for con-. 
ciseness is one of his. peculiar execellencies. They 
might more justly charge him with any thing, than 
with tediousness. This digression only serves to in- — 
troduce a recommendation of his.“* Jurisprudentia,” as 
one of the best books in the world fora lawyer. IL 
shall wrong it if I say “It is much ina sng 
would rather say “ Itis.all in one.’ si 

A lawyer should. bea scholar. It is pecneiane ‘that 
the emperor Justinian, whose name is now on the 
laws of the Roman empire,t is, by Suidas, called 
“ Analnhabetos—one, who. scarcely knew his. alpha- — 
bet.” It is. vexatious to find Accursius, one of the 
first commentators on the laws, fall into 40 many 


. 


* Concerning the useand authority of the common law. [A 
century has certainly produced other books of great value to 
the gentlemen. of the law, but it was thought proper to retain . 
the author’s advice on this subject, as well as on others.] 

+ They bear his name, because it was by his order th 
Tribonian made his hasty, and some say fallacious, coll 2ctiol 
ef them, from the two thousand volumes, into which ey 
been growing for 2 thousand years: cee 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 123 


@eeveetsvece 


‘gross mistakes, ‘through his ignorance.* But, when 
you are called upon to bewise, the design is, that you 
tmay be wise tedo gvod. ‘Without ‘this disposition, 
“Doth not their excellency which is in them go 
away? They die even without wisdom.” A founda- 
tion of piety must first be laid-; an inviolable respect 
to the holy and just and good law of God. This must 
be the rule of all your actions ; and it must particu- 
larly regulate your practice of the law. You are 
sensible that it was always the custom of the-civil law 
to begin with, ‘To the-most high and gracious God :’’t 
nor was it unusual for the instruments of the:Jaw to 
begin with the first two letters of the name of Christ, 
in Greek characters. The life of the lawyer-should 
have its beginning there, and be carried on with a con- 
‘stant regardto it. The old Saxon laws had the Ten 
Commandments prefixed to them—Ten Words of infi- 
nitely greater value than the famous 7'welve Fables so 
much admired by Zud/y and other ancient writers ; in 
the fragments of which, collected by Baldwin, there 
are some things horribly unrighteous and barbarous. 
These are to be‘the ,irst Jaws with you: and, as all 
the.laws that are contrary to these are 7/so facto, null 
and void, so, in the practice of the law, every thing 
disallowed by these must be avoided. The man 
whom the scripture calls a Jawyer was a Karaite, or 
one who strictly adhered to the written law of God, in 
opposition to the Pharisee and the Z’raditionist. 1 
| know not why every lawyer should not still be, in the 
best sense,.a Karaite. By manifesting areverence for 
the divine Jaw, both that of reason and that of super- 
added gospel, you will do good in the world beyond 
what you can imagine. You will redeem your 
honourable profession from the injury which bad 
men have done to its reputation ; and you will obtain 
a patronage for it very different from that which the 


* When a sentence of Greek occurred in the text, he was 
| able to afford no better gloss than this, “‘Hec Graica sunt, 
que nec legi, nec intelligi possunt---This is-Gretk, which can 
ither be read nor explained.” 


4 A Deo optimo maxima. 


124 “essays TO DO GOOD. 


Satyr in the idle story of your Saints Hivona has 
assigned to it. 

Your celebrated U/pian wrote seven sakes to shew 
the several punishments which ought to be inflicted on 
Christians. It is to be hoped that you will invent 
as many services to be done to the cause of chris- 
tianity, services to be performed for the kingdom of 
your Saviour, and methods by which to demonstrate 
that you yourselves are among the best of Christians. 

Iam not sure that our Tertullian was the gentle- 
man of that name, who hath some Consulta in the 
Roman Digesia ; which Grotius and others will not 
admit: yet Eusebius tells us that he was well skilled 
in the Roman laws: and in his writings you find 
many law terms, particularly “ Prescriptions against 
Heretics,” which were, as we learn from Quintillian 
and others, the replies of defendants to the actions of 
the plaintifis. I propose that others of the faculty — 
study all possible “ Prescriptiens” against those who — 
would injure the cause of christianity, and “ apolo- 
gies” for the church and cause of our Saviour. But, 
Sirs, it must first of all be done in your own virtuous, — 
exact, upright conduct, under all temptations. The 
iniscarriages of some individuals must not bring a 
blemish on a noble and useful profession. 

But although the profession in general must not be 
blamed for the faults of a few, yet many will allow 
ihe justness of the following remark, which occurs in — 
a late publication, entitled, “Examen Miscellaneum :” — 
** A lawyer who is a knave deserves d more than. 
the man that robs on the highway; for he profanes — 
the sanctuary of the distressed, and betrays the 
liberties of the people.” To avoid such a censure, a 
lawyer must shun all those indirect ways of “ making 
haste to be rich,” in which a man cannot be innocent 7% 
such ways as provoked the father of Sir Matthew 
Hale to abandon the practice of the law, on account of 
the extreme difficulty of preserving a good conscien 
in it. Sir, be prevailed upon constantly to k 
court of chancery in your own breast : and sco 
fear to do any thing but that which your cons 
will pronounce consistent with, and cond 


ESSAYS. TO DO GOOD, 326 
teatdeweseee 
“ Glory to God in the highest, peace on carth, and 
good-will towards men.” The very nature of your 
profession leads you to meditate on “a judgment to 
come.” O that you would so realize and antedate 
that judgment, as to do nothing but what you verily 
believe will be approved in it! 

This piety must operate, very particularly, in the 
pleading of causes. You will abhor, Sir, to appear in 
a dirty cause. If you discover that your client has an 
unjust cause, you will faithfully advise him of it. 
The question is, ** Whether it be lawful to use false- 
hood and deceit in contending with an adversary ?”* I¢ 
is to be hoped that you have determined this question 
jike an honest man. You will be sincerely desirous 
that truth and justice should take place. You will 
speak nothing which shall be to the prejudice of eith- 
er.. You will detest the use of all unfair arts to con- 
found evidences, to brow-beat witnesses, or to sup- 
press what may give light in the case. You haye 
nothing to object to that old rule of pleading 
a cause:—‘ When the gtilt of the party is 
clearly proved, the counsel ought to withdraw his. 
support.”¢ I remember that Schusterus, a famous 
Jawyer and counsellor, who died at Heidelberg in the 
year 1672, has an admirable passage in his epitaph : 


**Morti proximus vocem emisit ; 
Nihil se-unquam suasisse consilio, 
Cujus jam jam moriturum peniteret. 2 


—“ When at the point of death he could say, I never 
in the whole course of my practice gave an opinion of 
which I now repent.” A lawyer, who can leave the 
world with such language as this, proves a greater, 
blessing to the world than can be expressed. 

I cannot encourage any gentleman to spend much 
time in the study of the canon law ; which Lafiista a 


* Utrum fallaciis et deceptionibus ad convincendum adver- 
sarium uti liceat? “ 


__ -F Cognita iniquitate, a suscepto ejus patrocinio adyocatus 
ne Sesistere debet. ; 
_ M. 


SR Oe Poe EE 


426 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


Sancto Blasio has found to contradict the civil law in 
two hundred instances. The * decrees,” the “ decre- 
tals,” the “ clementines,” and “ extravagants,” which 
compose the hideous volumes of that law, would com- 
pel any wise man to make the same apology for his 
aversion to it which such a one once made: “T. cannot, 
Sir, feed on that which is vile.”* Agrippa, who was 
a doctor of that law, said of it, “It is neither of God 
nor for him: nothing but corruption invented it ; 
nothing but avarice has practised it.” Luther began 
the reformation with burning it. Nevertheless there 
is one point much insisted on in the canon law, which 
well deserves your serious consideration ; that is — 
RESTITUTION. When men have obtained riches. 
without right, or have heaped up wealth in any dis- 
honest and criminal ways, a restitution will be a nec- 
essary and essential part of that repentance which 
alone will find acceptance with Heaven. The solem- - 
nity of this thought may stand like an “ angel with a 
drawn sword” in your way, when you may be under a 
temptation to leave the path of duty, to go after the — 
“wages of unrighteousness.” Our law was once 
given to usin French. Many of you, gentlemen, 
know: the moderz French as well as the ancient, 
Mons. Placette has given youa valuable treatise of 
Restitution, in which there isa chapter, “ Des cas ou 
les Avocats sont obliges a restituer—Of the cases in 
which counsellers are obliged to make restitution.” 
In that chapter some persons will find a sad Bill of 
Costs taxed for them ; and among other assertions, 
this is one: “Excessive fees must be disgorged by 
restitution.”f This should be considered. mary 
It is an old complaint “that a good lawyer is sel- 
dom a good neighbour.” You know how to con- 
fute it, gentlemen, by making your skill in the law a 
blessing to the neighbourhood. It was affirmed as 
long ago, as in the time of Sallust, “ Towns were 


* Non possum, domine, vesci stercore I 
S’il exige une recompense excessive 
tionee a ce qu'il fait, il est oblige a restituer « 
de trop. 2 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. Loy 


Kappy: formerly, when there were no lawyers ; and 
they will be soagain when the race is extinct ;”* but 
you may, if you please, be a vast accession to the 
happiness of the places where you reside. 

You shall have some of my proposals for it, ina 
historical exhibition. In:the life of Mr. John Cotton, 
the author relates the following, concerning his fath- 
er, who was.a lawyer.. “ That worthy man was very 
remarkable in two most admirable practices. One 
was, that when any one ofhis neighbours wishing to 
sue another, applied to him for advice, it was his cus- 
tom, in the most persuasive and affectionate manner 
imaginable, to attempt a reconciliation between both 
parties ; preferring the consolation of being a peace- 
maker, to all the fees which he might have obtained 
by blowing up the differences. Another was, he was 
accustomed, every night, to examine himself, with 
reflections on the transactions of the past day ; and if 
he found that he had neither done good to others, nor 
got good to his own soul, he was as much oicved as 
Titus was, when he complained in the evening—“ My 
friends ! I have lost.a day.”+ 

What a noble thing would it be for you to find out 
oppressed widows and orphans ; and as such can ap- 
pear only “in forma pauperis ;” and are objects, in 
whose oppression “ mightevercomes right,” gener- 
ously plead their cause! “Deliver the poor and 
needy, and rid them out of the hand of the wicked” 
—It will be a glorious anda Godlike action ! 

Affluent persons, about to make their wills, may 
frequently ask your advice. . You may embrace the 
opportunity of advising them to such liberality in be- 
half of pious purposes, as may. greatly adyance the 
kingdom of Godin the world. And, when you have 
opportunity, by law, to rescue “the things that are 
God’s from the sacrilegious hands that would “ rob: 
God,” it may be hoped that you will do it with all pos- 
sible generosity and alacrity. O excellent imitation of 
our glorious Advocate in the heavens! 


_~ * Sine Causidicis satis felices olim fuere, futureque sunt 
bes. 
¢ Amici, diem perdidi. 


128 ESSAYS wid DO GOOD. 


seeeese 


Is there nothing to be amended in the dre Per- 
haps you may discover many things yet w inthe 
Jaws ; or mischiefs in the execution or application. of 
them, which ought to be provided against ; or mis- 
chiefs which annoy mankind, against which no laws 
are yet provided. The reformation of the laws, and 
more laws for the reformation of the world, are loud- 
ly called for. I do not affirm that our laws could be 
rie) reduced, that, like those of Geneva, they might be 
‘contained in five sheets of paper; but certainly the 
laws may be so corrected, that the world may ints 
yensibly and generally enjoy the benefit ofthem. I 
some lawyers, “men of an ©: cellent spirit,” would di- 
rect their attention this way, and call the attention of 
the legislature to them, all the world might feel the 
benefit ofit. A worthy man, moré than fifty years 
ago, wrote an “ Examen Legum Anglie—An Exam- 
ination of the English Laws,” which senertes consid- 
€ration in the present day. 

Your learning often qualifies you to “ write excel- 
lent things,” not only in your own profession, but also 
on many other entertaining and edifying themes. 
The books which have been written by learned law- 
yers would, in number, almost equal an Alexandrian 
fibrary “Ye Judge by a Freherus’ catalogue, or by a 
Pryn’s performances. What valuable works have 

been produced by a Grotius,a Hale, a Selden! Gentles 
men, you may plead the cause of religion and of the 
reformation, by your well directed pens; and perform 
innumerable services to the public. There is ‘ofte, at 
this day, who, in his “ History of the Apostles? Creed,” 
has obliged us to say, “he has offered like a krNe ta 
the temple of the King of heaven.” May ° ba ‘Lord 
his God-accept him ! 

Should you be called, Sir, to the adtninistratinn of 
justice, in the quality of a super, you will prescribe 
to yourself rules like those which the ‘renowned 
Lord Chief Justice Hane so religious! “observed, as 
to become a bright example for all agit 
the seat hos co The sum x 
follows : , 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 129 


“ That justice be administered uprightly, deliber- 
ately, resolutely. 

“That I rest not on my own understanding, but 
implore the direction of God. 

“That in the execution of justice, I carefully lay 
aside my own passions, and not give way to them, 
however provoked. 

“That I be wholly intent on the business I am 
about. 

“ That I suffer not myself to be prepossessed with 
any Judgment at all, till all the business, and both 
parties are heard.’” 

In the pursuance of sac. methods to do good, to 
serve the cause of righteousness, and introduce the 
promised age, in which “ the people shall.all be right- 
eous,” the least of those glorious recomipenses you 
May expect will be the- establishment of your pro-. 
fession, in such a reputation, that the most prejudic- 
ed persons in the world, when seeking to find blem- 
ishes in it, will be obliged to bring in an Jgnoramus.. 

ail 


2 | 
—_—— 


SociETIES FOR THE REFORMATION OF MAN> | 
ERs, and for the Suppression of Vice, have begun to 
grow into-esteem, and it is one of the best omens that: 
appear in the world: “ Behold, how great a matter a 
little (of this heavenly) fire kindleth !” Five or six 
gentlemen in. London, associated, with a heroic res- 
olution, to: oppose that torrent of wickedness which 
was carrying all before it. More were soon added to 
their number ; and though: they. met with great op- 
position from “ wicked spirits,” incarnate, as well as 
invisible ones, and some in‘ high places’ too, yet 
they. proceeded with a most honourable and invinci- 
ble courage. Their success, if not proportioned to 
their courage, wag yet far from contemptible. Inthe 
oat ok sical icted on those who transgressed the 
laws of morality, many: thousands of sacrifices were 
offered to thi ess of God. Hundreds of houses, 
| which wert pe of hell, and the scandal of the. 

oa 


i30 ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 


earth, vere soon'shut up. A remarkable ‘check was 
given to the raging profanation of the Lord’s name ; 
and the Lord’s day was not so openly and borridly 
abused as before. Among other ‘essays to’ do good,” 
they scattéred many thousands of good books among 
the people, which had a tendency ‘to reform their 
manners. It was not long before this excellent exam- 
ple was followed in other parts of the British empire. 
Virtuous men of various ranks and persuasions, be- 
came members of the societies. Persons high and 
low, churchmen and dissenters, united ; and the 
union became formidable to the powers of darkness. 
The report of the societies flew over the seas, and the 
pattern was imitated in other countries. Wise men, 
1 remcte parts of Eurepe, made this joyful remark 
upon them, “that they occasion unspeakable good, 
and announce a more illustrious state of the church of 
God, which is to be expected in the conyersion of 
Jews and Gentiles.” America, 100, begins to be irra- 
diated with them. OS a 

I shall here recite an account, formerly presefited te 
the public, of what may be effected by such societies. 
** What incredible benefits will accrue to religion — 
from reforming societies, if the disposition to promote 
them should not uvhappily languish. A small socie- 
ty may prove an invaluable blessing to a town, whose 
welfare should become the object of their watchful at- 
tention: they may be as a garrison to defend it from 
the worst of its enemies: they may soon render it “a 
mountain of holiness, and a dwelling ‘of righteous- 
ness.’ The society may assist in promoting the ex- — 
ecution of these wholesome laws,.by which vice is 
giscouraged. Offenders against the law may be-Kept _ 
under such vigilant inspection, that they shall not — 


of God, which may. be expected 
indulged, will be diverted. ‘¢ W 
g-lves, the judgments of God 
Swearing and cursing will not 1 
will not recl along the streets, tra 
by drutkenness. The cages of tf 


ESSAYS TO ‘BO GOOD. 1S} 


dissipated. They whom idleness rendered dead 
while they lived, will have an honest employment 
provided for them. And the Lord’s day will be visi-+ 
bly kept holy to the Lord. 

“ Vice is a cowardly’ thing ; it will soon shrink be- 
fore those who boldly oppose it. If any laws necessary 
to remedy what is amiss, be yet wanting, the society 
may apply to the legislative power to procure them. 
What is defective in the bye-laws of the town may 
soon be supplied. The election of such officers -as. 
may be faithful and useful to the public may’be in- 
fluericed by the society. If any persons be notoriously 
defective in their duty, the society may, by suitable 
admonitions and remecnstrances, cause those defects, 
to be amended. If any families live without family 
worship, the pastor may be informed, who will visit 
them, and exhort them no longer to remain in their 
atheism. If any are in danger-of being led away by 
seducers, or other temptations, care may be taken ta 
warn them. Schools of various kinds may derive ad- 
vantagefrom such a society. ‘Charity schools may be 
erected, inspected, and supported: » Books and tracts, 
containing the salt of heaven, may be sprinkled all over 
the Jand, and the “savour of truth’ be diffused about 
the country. ‘Finally, the socicty may find out who 
are in extreme necessity, and by their own liberality, 
or that of others, may procure assistance for them. 

“ We know that a small society may effect these 
things, because we know that they have been done, 
and yet the persons who did them have been concealed 
from the world. To minds elevated above the dregs 
of mankind, and endued with any generosity, no other 
ar gumient to form such a society will be needful, than 
the prospect of so much usefulness. This will strong- 
ly recommend the design to well-disposed PEYsenst 
and they will think it an ne Sal op belong to sucha 
society.” jeg + 

"Phe \ retital’ of ee; pessagescmay: be sufficient to 
introduce the following proposal. 

“That a'pro per number of persons in a nlehigais 
hood,’ whose hearts God hath ‘inclined to do good, 
_ should form themselves into‘a society, ‘to meet whey 


132: ESSAYS TO DO Goopy 

and where they shall agree, and to consider—“ What 

are the disorders that we may observe rising among 

us; and what may be done, either by. ourselves i imme- 
diately, or by others through our advice, to suppress 
those disorders?” That they would procure, if they 

can, the presence of a minister with them ;, and every. 
time they meet, present a prayer to the Lord to bless, 
direct, and prosper the design. That they would also. 

procure, if possible,.a. justice of the peace, to- be a 

member of the society. That half-yearly. they choose 
two stewards, to dispatch the business and. messages 
of the society, and manage the votes. in it, who.shali 
nominate their successors when their term is expired. , 
That they would, have a faithful treasurer, in whose 
hands their stock of charity may be deposited ;. and a 
clerk to keep a suitable record of their transactions 
and purposes ; and, finally, that. they carry on their 

whole design with as much modesty. and silence as. 


possible; 
In a town. furnished with several such societies, it 
has been usual for them all to meet togethenjonce a 


year, and keep a day. of. prayer ;, in which they have 
humbled themselves. for doing so little good, and en- 
treated the pardon of their unfruitfulness, through — 
the blood of the great Sacrifice ;. and implored the 
blessing of Heaven on those essays.to do good which 
they have made, the counsel and conduct of Heaven. 
for their further attempts, and such influences. of 
Heaven as: may accomplish that reformatiog, which it 
Was not in their power to effect. 

I will. conclude this. proposal by seghtinigt idles 
points of consideration, which may be read to the | 
societies, at their meetings from time to time, with a 
proper pause after each of. them, that. any member 
mah offer what he pleases upon it. 

. Is there any remarkable disorder in the place, 4 
which requires our endeavours for the piney eg of 


ke 


it? and, In what good, fairy. like 
tempt it? Phe. 
2. Isthere any particular pers: 
behaviour may be so scandalous, 
per to send him our, charitable .a 


ESSAYS bi ma GOOD. 133 


thereany contending persons whom we Arcsald eX 
hort to quench their contentions ? 

3. Is there any particular service to the interests 
of religion, which we may conveniently request our 
ministers to take notice of ? 

4. Is there any thing which we may do well to 
mention and recommend to the magistrates, for the 
further promotion of good order? 

5. Is there any sort of officers among us who are so 
unmindful of their duty; that we may properly remind 
them of it? 

6. Can any further methods be devised that igno= 
rance and wickedness may be chased from our people 
in general; and that domestic piety, in particular, 
may flourish among them ? 

7. Is there any instance of oppression or fraudy- 
lence, in the dealings of any sort of people, which may 
call for our efforts to prevent it in future ? 

8. Is there any matter to be humbly recommended 
to the legislative power, to be enacted into a law for 
the p benefit ? 

9. we know of any person languishing under 
heavy affiiction, amd what can we do for the succour 
of that afflicted neighbour ? 

10. Has any person a proposal to make, for the 
further advantage, assistance, and usefulness of this 
society? 

. Reader—“ Look now towards keaven, and tell the 
stars, if thou be able to number them ;” yea, tell first 
tid leaves of a Hercynian forest, and the drops of the 
‘Atlantic ‘océan—then tell how many good things may 
be done by societies of good men, having such points 
ef consideration before them. 

And yet, after all, when such societies have done all 
‘the good they can, and nothing but good, and-walk on 
in'a more unspotted brightness than that of the moon 
in heaven, let them expect to be maligned and libelled 
as “a-set of scoundrels who are maintained by lying, 
serve God for unrighteous gain, ferret whores for 
subsistence, and are not more zealous against im- 
1 morality i in their informations, than for it in their own 

practice ; aveiding no sin in themselves, and suffering 


134 BSSAYS. TO D8 GOOD, 


. POneeterecee 


none in other people.” I suppose that they who pub- 
lish their censures on “ The manners of the age” 
will thus express their malignity, because they, have 
done so. Sirs! “add to your faith, “pag ghd bend be 
armed for such a trial of it. 

- 


TAs ai 
— gid 


ee eA 
A CATALOGUE OF DESIRABLE praires: 


We will not propose that our essays. to do good 
should ever come to a close; but we will now puta 
close to our tender of proposals for them; I shall 
therefore conclude witha Catalogus Desideratorum, 
or a mention of some obvious and general services for 
the kingdom of God among men, to which it is desira- 
ble that religious persons should be awakened.* 

I. The propagation of the holy and glorious re- 
ligion of Christ ; a religion which emancipates man- 
kind from the worst kind of slavery and misery, and 
wonderfully ennobles it; and, which alone prepares 
men for the blessedness of another world. by is. 
this no more attempted by its professors? P tantsy, 
will you be out-done by Popish idplaters ? O the vast 
pains which those bigots haye to carry on the 
Romish merchandize and idolatry | No less than six: 
hundred clergymen, in the order of the Jesuits alone, 
have, within a few years, embarked. for China, to win 
over that mighty nation to their bastard christianity. 
No less than five hundred of them lost their lives in 
the difficulties of their enterprize, and yet the surviy~ 
ors go on with it, expressing a sort of regret that it 
' fell not to their share to makea sacrifice of their lives, 
in attempting the propagation of their religion. “ O 
my God, I am.ashamed, and blush to lift up my face: 
to thee, my- God!” Who. can tell what great things 
might be done if our trading companies and factories. 
would set apart a more considerable part of their 
gains for this work, and would RPORRCOIS:, it more 

ye ates a 
* Difficilem rem optas,- generis) human: “ipnoeentiam<' ‘ 


you long for the reformation of mankind, Foes, longing fer 
that which it is difficult to accom ate e r 7% 


ae 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. 1335 


vigorously. The sp vidionil which Gordon has made at 
the end of his “Geography,” that all persons of 
property would appropriate a smail part of their 
wealth to this purpose, should be more attentively con- 
sidered. What has already been done by the Dutch 
missionaries at Ceylon, and the Danish missionaries 
at Malabar, one would imagine sufficient te excite us 
to imitate them. 
If men ef zeal for evangelising and illuminating a 
miserable world would learn the languages of some 
nations which are yet unevangelised, and wait on the 
providence of Heaven to direct them to some apostoli- 
cal undertakings, and to bless them therein,’ who can 
tell what might be done + We know what Ruffinus 
relates concerning conversion of the’ Iberians, 
and what Socrates mentions concerning the‘things 
done by Frumentius and Aedesius in the inner India. 
In this subject there are two things worthy of re- 
mark : 
_ First, it is the opinien of some Seers, that'until the 
temple be cleansed, there will be no general appear- 
ance of the nations to worship init. And the truth 
is, there will be danger until then, that many persons, 
active in societies for the propagation of religion, 
‘may be more intent on propagating their own little 
forms, fancies, and interests, than the more weighty 
matters of the gospel. Yea, it will be well if they be 
not, unawares, imposed upon, to injure the cause of 
christianity where it is well established, while places 
in the neigbourhood, wholly unevangelised, may lie 
neglected. Let us therefore do what we can towards 
the reformation of the church, in order to its enlarges 
| men. 

Secondly, it is probable that the Holy Spirit will be 
again bestewed on the'church for its enlargement, in 
operations similar to those which, in the first ages of 
christianity, were granted for its plantation. The 
Holy Spirit, who has withdrawn from the apostate 
hurch, will come and abide with us, and render this 
orld like a “ watered garden.”’ His irresistible in- 
uences will cause whole “ nations to be born ina 


ay.” He will not only convert, but unite his people, 


136 ESSAYS, TO: DO GOOD. 1 
By him, God will “ dwell with men.” - Would net — 
our heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit if oa were 
more earnestly entreated of him! — " 
II.. Itis lamentable to cbse: 
wickedness yet remaining, eve! 
British. dominions: in Wale 
Scotland, and in Ireland. Are 
There are pretended shepherds in th 
will never be able to answer before 
for their, laying so little to heart the 
cumstances of so many persons whom 
if they were not scandalously negligent; 
more, acquainted with the only Saviour. - 
II}.,,, Why is nothing more effected for the poor 
Greeks, ; Armenians, Muscovii other Chris<— 
tians,;who have. little prea . no printing 
amon them ? If we were to se em Bibles, Psal~ 
ters, and other Books of Piety in their own language, — 
they would be noble presents, and God —_ mies 
how useful. i 
-1V.. Poor, sailors and poor soldiers « for our” 
pity. They meet with great troubles, at ‘their 
yaanners seldom discover any good aeuate of their | 
trials. What shall be done to make them a better = 


of men? , Besides more books of .piety distribute 
among.them,. other methods must be devised. “ An 
ass falls, and the first who comes. lifts him up: a. ; 
soul is on.the brink of ruin, and,not.a hand is atartchegl 
ed out.”* Let Austin awaken us. 
V. The %radesman’s library should. de. more ene 
riched. We have seen. “ husbandgy, spiritualized ;? 
the employment of the “shepherd, spivitualized om 
“ navigation spiritualized ; ” and the “ weaver,” also, 
furnished with, agreeable; meditations,; . Ao spread 
the nets of salvation for men in the. way,. of their. ‘per 
sonal callings, and to convey. pious, thoughts in the 
terms and branches of their personal callings, i is a 
real service to the interests a piety, _ A book ) 
that shall be an “ Onomatologia Monitoria,’ pf 


* Cadit asinus, & est qui sublevat : penit a 1, € i 
qui manum apponat. Tee te hs: new Cs i 


ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. aay. 


seeareeresees 


membrancer from names,” and shall advise persons 
how to make their names the monitors of their duty, 
might be of much use to the christened world. And 
a ‘book which shall be “ The Angel of Bethesda,” giv- 
ing instructions in what manner to improve in piety, 
by. the several maladies with which any may be af- 
flicted ; andat the same time informing them of the 
most experimental, natural, and specific eo for 
their disorders, might be very useful to mankind. 

VI. Universities which shall have more Collegia 
Pietatis in them, like those of the excellent Franc- 
kius in the Lower Saxony. © that such institutions 
were more numerous! Semimaries in which the 
scholars may have a most polite education, but not be 
sent forth with recommendations for the evangelical 
ministry, till, upon a strict examination, it be found 
that their Souls are fired with the fear of God, the love 
of Christ, a zeal to do good, and a resolution to bear 
poverty, reproach, and all sorts of temptations, in the 
service of our holy religion. Such characters would 
be t nders of the world; and what wonders 
mightthey do in the world! 

Let charity-schools also “increase and multiply ;” 
Charity-schools which may provide subjects for the 
great Savioyr, blessings for the next generation : 
~ Charity-schools, not perverted to the ill purpose of 
introducing a defective christianity. 

Vil. tis the part of wisdom to observe and pur- 
sue those things which, so far as we understand by 
the books of the sacred prophecy, are to be the works 
of our day. When the time had arrived that Anti- 
christ should enter his last “ half-time,” one poor 
monk proved a main instrument of wresting from him 
half hisempire. Thus to fall in with the designs of 
Divine Providence, is the way to be wonderfully pros- 
pered and honoured. The works of our day I take to 
_ be as follows : 

1. The Revival of Primitive Christianity: to en- 
deavour to restore every thing of the primitive char- 
acter. The apostacy is going off. The time for 
cleansing the temple comes on. More Epwarps 


a- 


vei 


a Oe ee 1 


§3§ ESSAYS TO DO GO6B. 4 


store ereasene b, 


would be vast blessings, when the primitive doctrines 
of christianity are corrupted. 

2, The persuading of the European powers to 
shake off the chains of popery. et thisargument be _ 
used : there is no popish nation but would, by em- 
bracing the protestant religion, not only introduce it- __ 
self into a glorious: liberty, but alse would double its 
wealth immediately. It is strange that this has not 
been more attended to. Let it = with — 
more demonstration. A. certam writer has shown, 
that the abolition of popery in’England is gets } 
least eight millions sterling to the nation, annually, 
Let this argument, arising from interest, be tried with 
other nations. , 

3. The formation and quickening ofthe people 
who are to be.‘ The stone cut out of.the mountain.” 
In this thing, asin some others, “None of the wicked . 
shall understand ; but the wise -shall-understand.” — 
God will do his own tvork in his own time and man- & 
ner ; and Austin says, “It is Nt ee 
part of what I meant to say, because of m nca-- 
pacity to receive it.”* 


* Utile est ut taceatur aliquod yerbum, propter incapaces. 


CONCLUSION. 


eeee ees eran 


“ Tux zeal of the Lord of Hests will perform these~ 
things::” a zeal inspired and produced by the Lord 
of Hosts in his faithful servants. will put them upon - 
the performance of such things. Nothing has yet 
been proposed that is impracticable: “I mention 
not things of great difficulty, but such as-are within 
our powe ”* “But Eusebius has taught me, “ It is 
truly noble to do great things, and yet to esteem 
yourself as nothing.”{ Sirs, while pursuing such a 
course of actions as Shdebeen described above ; actions, . 
which are far more glorious than all the achievements 
of which those bloody. plunderers whom we call con- - 
querors have made a wretched ostentation ;—still hu- - 
mility must crown the whole. Without this they 
are all nothing: nothing, without a sense that you 
are nothing, and a willingness to be so esteemed. 
You must first, most humbly acknowledge to the 
gre d, “that after you have done all, you are un- 
profitable servants ;”? that you have-not only done 
that “ which was your duty to do,” but also, that you 
have fallen exceeding short of your “duty.” If God 
should abase you with very dark dispensations of his 
thet cers after all your indefatigable and disinterest- 

“essays” to glorify him, humble yourselves before 
h yet abate nothing of your exertions. Perse- 
vere, saying, my God will humble me, yet will I gio- 
rify him, Lord, thou art righteous. Still will I do 
all I'can to promote thy glorious kingdom. This act 
of humiliation is indeed comparatively easy. There 
is one to be demanded of you, of much greater diffi- 
culty ; that is, that you. humbly submit to all the dis- 
credit whichGod may appoint for youamong men. Yeur 
adorable Saviour was one who always “ went about 
doing good.” Mankind was never visited by a bene- 
factor like him ; and yet never was any one so vilified. 


* Non fortia loquor, sed possibilia. 
+ Vere magnum est magna facere, & teipsum putare nihil . 
™ 


14@ : conenetom ae 


Had he been the worst malefa 
could not have been Boe ins 5 


hanna 
7 eS 


2” 


- 


continued the same cea : tl 
reproached him, they murdere 
truly said, “ A sight of our Lot 
cure for-pride.”* It will alsa be 
couragement ; it will keep you fre 
as from being lifted up. You are 
Saviour in your watchful endeavours to 
and to be “ fruitful in every good work.” 
conformity to him yet wants one point more to pe 
der it complete ; that is, to be “ despised and reject- 
ed of men ;” and patiently to bear the contempt, the, - | 
malice, and the abuse of a « perverse generation.” 
One of the fathers, who sometimes wanted a little of 
this grace, could say, “ Nothing makes us so agreea- 
ble in the sight of God and man, as to rise high by 
our good actions, and yet sink low in hum mility.” me 
It is an excellent thing to come to nothing iijyour 
ewn esteem. If you hear the hopes of unftendly 
men, that you will come to nothing ; hear it with as 
much satisfaction as they can. hope for it. In this 
sense embrace exinaxition and’ annihilation. A pet 
son who had been a famous “ doer of cl” 
much affected with the picture of a dey 
whom a voice came down from: heay 
wouldst thou have me do for thee ?” 1 
plied, “ Nothing, Lord, but that I may 
ri suffer contempt for thy sake.’ Sirs, 
somewhere else than in fcfure ; be you ‘Ss 


Se CM ear a 


‘reality: and thus “ let patience have its Beret “ 
work.” F | 
I hope you are too wise to imagine that because. 


you are never weary of wcll-doing, you. wi a 
be univer A well “ en of. No; it acs 


t Nihil « est 10s ita et hominibus et Deo grat 
si vite merito magni, et humilitate infimi simus 


¢ “ Quid vis fieri pro te?” ‘ Nihil, Dom 
COUnenE pro te ?? 


* ey - 


CONCLUSION. ‘ Y41 


the contrary. To do well, and to dear evil, isthe 
common experience, and should be our constant ex- 
pectation. And for this unreasonable thing, many 
reasons may be given. It will be impossible to do 
much good without some persons accounting them- 
selves injured by what you do. You will unavoidably 
serve some interests to which others are inimical. It 
is also the nat ire of mad men to take up.strange prej- 
udices against. yeir best friends ; and to be averse to 
none so ; tauch as to them. Now we may every 
where ‘see those concerning whom we are told, 

‘¢ Madness is in their hearts.” This will appear ia 

their unaccountable prejudices against those who 

most of all seek their good. Then “ he teareth me 

in his wrath who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me 

with his teeth : mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes up- 

on me.” A benefactor will perhaps be honoured as 

the Lindians worshipped Hercules, by cursing and 

throwing stones. The wrath of God against a sinful 
* and miserable world is likewise discovered in this 
matt If men, who are always intent on doing 
good, Were so generally beloved and esteemed as they 
ought to be, they would become instruments of doing 
more good than the justice of heaven can yet allow to 
be done for a sinful world. The world is neither 
worthy of them, nor of the good which they endeay- 
our to perform. To deprive the world of that good, 
mankind must be permitted to entertain a strange sail 
aversion to those persons. who would fain perform it. 
This cramps and fetters them, and defeats their ex- 
cellent purposes. 

Nor is the great. adversary idle on this occasion... 
The man, who shall do much good, will thereby de 
much harm to his empire. It would be surprisin if 
the devil should not “ seek to devour,” or take ? 
quisite revenge upon such men of God. And unl 
God should lay an uncommon restraint upon that 
* wicked one,” ‘such is “ the power of the adversary,” 
and so great an influence has he over the minds of 
| multitudes, that he will bitterly revenge himself 4 

on any remarkable “ oe of good :” he will procure 

2 


; 


142 


pone Bur Oates ser 
shalt “ run through a troop ;” 
** leap over a wall.” We shou miwon- | 
dering that wicked men are e€ 
does much good ; that they spr 
ports, and write so many libels ¢ 
we ought rather to wonder the 
this world hotter than a Babylonis' 
too hot for his continuing in it. S 
much, it is very likely that the. evil aie 
raise upon your opportunities to do geod, such 
rible tempest as may threaten their utter- “ruin. 
may fear to have your serviceableness—the “ apple of 
your eye” struck out: you may be driven to prayers, 
to tears, and to frequent fasting in secret, on this 
“account. Prostrate in the dust, you must offer up: 
your supplications with strong crying: and tears, to 
him that is able to save your “ opportunities of use- ” 
fulness from death ;” you must cry out, “ O deliver 
my soul,” my serviceableness, “ from the 5 my 
darling from the power of the dog!” The words of 
the great Baxter are to the purpose, and worthy to. 
be introduced on this occasion : - 

“ The temptations and suggestions of Satan, yea, 
Bd often his external and contrived snares, are such = 
as Serica to give men q palpable discovery of b 
agency. Whence is it that such wonder‘ul successive 
trains of impediments are set in the way of almost. 
every man that intends any great and good y work i in 
the world ? I have, among men of my own. acquaint- 
hak ahscried such wonderful frustrations of many. 


Ey 


veh ement, ei malice ermal by God to resist 
mankind, and to militate against all good i in the world. 
Leta man have any work of the greatest, natural im- 
portance, which par to no great benefit to ea l, 


ry 


‘righteous ; 


CONCLUSION. 143 


heal divisions, to revive charity, to sieredae virtue, _ 


and to save men’s souls, yea, or to the public common 
felicity ; ; and his impediments | ‘shall be so multifa- 
rious, so far-fetched, so subtle, so incessant, and in 
spite of all his care and resolution, usually so success- 
fal, that he shall seem to himself like a man that is 
held fast, hand and foot, while he sees no one touch 


him ; or that sees a hundred blocks brought and cast b 


before him in his way, while he sees no one do it.” 

I have transcribed this passage that such opposi-. 
tion may not come upon any one unexpectedly. O. 
thou doer of good, expect a conflict with wicked 
spirits in high places, to clog all the good thou dost 
propose todo. Expect that they will make ceaseléss. 
endeavours to overwhelm thee, by instilling mto the 
minds of men, vile ideas. concerning thee, and by put-. 
ting into their mouths calumnies against thee. These 


‘will be some of their devices to defeat all thy propo-. 


sals; “ Be not ignorant of Satan’s devices.” 

Yea, and if the devil. were asleep, there is malignity- 
enowdliin the hearts of wicked men themselves, to. 
render a man, who wishes to do good, very offensive 
and troublesome to them. They are the offspring of 
him who “slew his brother because his works were: 
» and they will malign a man because he 
is useful to other men. Indeed, “ to be spoken ill of 
bysthe wicked is to.be-praised.”* Wicked men will. 
curse a man because he is a blessing. Base and 
wicked disposition ! 

T happened once to be present in the room where: 
a dying man could not leave the world until h d 
lamented to a minister, whom he had sent for cas 
account, the unjust calumnies and injuries whic 
had often cast upon him. The minister asked the 


poor penitent what was. the occasion pf his abusive 


conduct ; whether he had been imposed upon by any 
false reports. The man made this horrible answer : 


“No, Sir ; it was merely this; I thought. you werea ~_ 
good man, and that you did much good in the world, eis 
and therefore I hated you. ayo} is it po is 


——— ey: 


* Malis displicere est fete it 


3 


Wie 


144. 


ceived if I fear that a secret al 
of God lies at the bottom of it. 
may frequently be pale envy, enr 
are more useful in the world t 
themselves with more than Sicilian 
sight of what God and man unite to p 
see itandare grieved.” “ He isnotagood1 
has not goodness enough to call forth eny 
tred.”* But you must not * think strange of tl 
trial,” if men “speak evil of you,” after you have 
done good to many, yea, to those very persons who 
thus speak. It will not be strange if you should 
“hear the defaming of many ;” if the men who do 
not love the holy ways of the Lord in his churches, 
should have no love to you; if javelins should be _ 
thrown at you with the most impetuous rage; andif ~ 
pamphlets filled with falsehood and slander slid be 
published against you. God may wisely andin much 
faithfulness permit these things “ to hide pride from- 
you.” ‘ O-how much of that deadly poison, pride, 
still remains within us; for which nothing short of — 
poison is an antidote !”} Alas! while we still carry 
about us the grave-clothes of pride, these 1. 
hands are the best that can be employed to pull the 
off. If you should meet with such things, you must 
bear them with much meekness, much silence, great 
self-abasement, and a disposition to forgive the worst { 
of all your persecutors. “ Being defamed, you must_ 
entreat.” Be well pleased if you can redeem ae 
rtunities to do good. Be ready to do good even to 
t from whom you suffer evil. And when you — 
have done all the good in your power, account 
self well paid if you escape as well as the crane did _ 
from the wolf; if you are not funished for wha ‘ 


curari, + 


ee fe y . 


_ CONCLUSION. . E45 
do. In short, be insensible of any merit in your per- 
formances. Lie in the dust, and be willing that both 
God and man should lay you ther - Endeavour to. 
reconcile your mind to indignities. Entertain them 
with all the calmness and temper imaginable. Be 
content that ¢hree hundr red in Sparta should be pre- 
ferred before you. When envious men can fix upon 
you no other blemish, they will say of you, as they 
said of Cyprian, that you are a proud man, because you 
do not jog on in their heavy road of slothfulness. 
Bear this also, with a still more profound humility. 
Xt is the last effort usually made by the dying “ pride 
of life,” to bear the charge of pride with impatience. 

Ye useful men, your acceptance with your Saviour, 
and with God through him, and your recompense in 
the werld to come, are to carry you cheerfully through 
all your “ essays’ at usefulness. To be * reprobate 
for every good work” is acharacter from which it will 
be the wisdom of all men to fly, with the greatest 
dread imaginable. And to be “ always abounding in 
the work of the Lord” is the truest and highest 
wisdo It is the “wisdom which is from above, 
full of mercy and good fruits.” The sluggards who 
do no good in the world are “wise in their own con- 
eeit;” but the men who are diligent in doing good 
can give such a reason for what they do, as proves 
them to be really wise. Men “ leave off to be wise,” 
whep they leave off to “do good.” ‘The wisdom of 
it appears in this: it is the best way of spending our 
time; that time is well spent which is employed in 
doing good. It is also a sure and pleasant way ef- 

_fectually to bespeak the blessings of God on ourselves. 
Who so likely to find blessings as the men that are 
blessings ! It has been said, “ He, who lives well, al- 
ways prays.”’* And I will add, “He, who acts well, 
prays well.”} Every action we perform for the king- 
dom of God, is} in feet a prayer for the blessing of 
God. While we are at work for God, certainly he 
will be at work for us and ours. He will do for us 


* Qui bene vivit, sempé@r orat. a 
+ Qui bene agit, bene orat.” 


ed 


fect of whe we oda Decker our. 
ey eeopring 


ise to do good.” And: 
compared toa “ tree that brings’ forth 
““Whatsoever he deeth shall prosper.” 
man take a readier way to “ live sopfolly Ss 
of the life of his vanity, which Ged hath’ given him.. 
under the sun :” For, in this case, our life will not be 
thrown away. in “ vanity,’ nor shall we live “ in vain.” 
BMy friend, “ Gothy way,” and. be joyful, “ for-Ged 
accepteth thy works.” Our.“ few and evil” days are 
rendered much less so, by our doing good in every — 
one of them, as it rolls over our heads: beh wie ois. A 
Spirit of God, who is the quickener of those w “do: | 
good without ceasing,” will also. be their. comforter. 
Every day in which we are active for the kingdom of 
God, will be in some measure a day of Pentecost to — 
us ; aday of the Holy Spirit’s coming upon us. The 
hi consolations of God” will not be “ phot with the 
man who is full of contrivances for Ged, and for his — 
igdom. In short, we read, “‘ the vallies are coyered 
ver with corn; they shout for joy, they also. A eee 
We may be in low circumstances, in the valley of | 
Bumiliation, butuf we abound in the fruits of well-do- 
ing, we shall find this valley “ covered sith es 
corn,” When, this. is the case, we shall, * sho 
joy, and also sing.” The consciousness of what we 
do, and of what we aim to de, willbe a “ centinual 
feast” tous. “ Our rejoicing is this, the testimony — 
of our conscience.” “ A good action Is its own re- ' 
ward.”* Indeed the pleasure that is experienced in 
the performance of good actions is inexpressible, i ke 
unparalleled, is angelical: it is a most refin 


or: “ f 
* Recte fecisse merces est, 


pleasure, more 13: be | 
-cation. Pleasure was Jo : 
‘sult of some excellent action.” 
sort of holy luxury. Most pi 
continue strangers to-it ! mS 
. When: the useful man comes to his Vine’ donnie, 
“then he, who lived beloved, shall die lamented. - It 
shall be witnessed and remembered of hi n, “ That he 
“was one who did good in Israel :”— aph, 
glory of which is far beyond that of the : 
pyramid. Then the -calumniators,-who once en- 
-deavoured to destroy his reputation, shall hagaperhing 


to reflect “upon but the impotence-of their own de- 
feated malice. A Zhersites will not have e dis- 
advantageous article in his character than this, That 


he-was an enemy to such a Ulysses. 
‘But what shall be done for this good m 
heavenly world? His part and his work in @ 
God are at Present incomprehensible to u 
“kindness,” which his God will shew to hi 
strongycity,” ” will be traly “ marvellous.” 
writing on this subject, exclaimed, “ How g 
be the felicity of that city, where no evil wil 
no good concealed.”* The attempts which th 
tian has made to &ll this world with “righ 
things” are so many tékens for good to him, tha 
shall have a portion in that world wherein shall dwel 
nothing but “ righteousness.” He will be introduc 


the glorious Jesus, which will be worth ten thous 

worlds :—“ Well done, good and faithful servant 

_ And, O! what shall be done for him! He hasdone ~ 

what he could for the honour of the King of heaven; — 

and every thing shall be done for him that can be KF 
for one whom the King of heaven “ — 

honour.” 

I will give you the whole summed up in one word: _ 

“ Mercy and truth shall be te them that devise good.” 

Ve children of God, there is a character of “ “oe 

asia SK 

* Quanta erit illa felicitas, ubi nullum crit malum, im 

it, bonum ! aig 


~" 


448 

and. truth? i ll 10 \ levise. You devise 
how to deal mercifully and truly with every one, and to 
induce do o. And the mercy and 
truth of God, h are forever gaged on your be- 


an you in this life to “Jack no good — 
thing,” and will hereafter do you § beyond what } 
the heart of man can yet conceiv Cal faithful God 
has promised it—“ ‘The mouth of Perera hath spok- 
en it.?)-chaem | 

I remember what Calvin | said vite the order for 4 
his banishment from ungrateful Geneva was brought 
to him: ‘Most assuredly, if I had merely served — 
man, this would have been a poor recompense: but 
it is my happiness that I have served Him who never: 
fails to reward his servants to the full extent of his { 
promise,”* ° 5 

J will conclude with a deqlaus tion which I will bold- 

‘maintain: Itis this: Werea man able to write 
n seven languages; could he daily converse with | 
the sweets of all the liberal sciences to which the most | 
accomplished men make pretensions 5 ; were he to 
entertain himself with all ancient and-modern history ; — 
and could he feast continually on the curiosities which 
the “different branches of learning may discover to | 
him :—all this would not afford the vavishing satis- — 
faction which he might find in relieving the distresses 
of a poor; miserable neighbour ; nor would it bear any 
comparison with the heartfelt delight which he might — 


‘obtain by daing an extensive service to the kingdom 


of. our great Saviour in the world, or by exerting his 
efforts to redress the miseries under which mankind 
is generally languishing. 


* Certe si hominibus servivissem, mala mihi merces per- 
solyeretur : sed bene est, quod ei inservivi, quinungnam non 
servis suis rependit, quod semel promisit. 


THE. END al 


——— 
el vn 


Date Due 


4. 


Maki al Noe 


4 


: a 


¥ 
€ 
om: 
af 
TAd< 
UL N, fj 
vw" ¥ Vv 


nS WURPDRASELE ROSE RSI SSRSRS OSE NONE LESE EULEEAESTE RS SSID Bi hen ee 


Aa HiANiN NE 
D00749588fi 


a eee 


oe 
a ly: 


. rite 
r Vo, ' 
sp Ng Wh 
Ta aie 
1,00 ay “ 
ay teh 8 
Pe kod 
Shit 


, 
‘ 


Pr 
4 
* 


ip 1 
4 


if 


i F oy 
Thad ed fehl , i 
? ‘ 


vi 

es 

eeehits Si 

emt 

‘aye 

. i 
re 

‘ty! 


Pte a 
th 


) 
a 


aX vi 
Ay A 
tae ere 
My hy eget 


oF 
my yelt 


ti? : Olay Falg ‘ t Chet A . 
GONE, uA nn 
Pk aN 
, Tate ty WeoMs ; 
vets, ree ' ; a yt: : 4 


